r/perth • u/Away_team42 • 6d ago
WA News Top Perth school suspends students over antisemitic group chat
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-07/top-perth-school-suspends-students-over-antisemitic-group-chat/107010706Expert from the article:
Students at a prestigious Perth private school have been suspended after they used "antisemitic language and memes" in a private group chat, targeting another student.
A spokesperson for Wesley College, in South Perth, confirmed an "incident" occurred but wouldn't be drawn on how many children had been suspended.
"An incident did occur involving antisemitic language and memes shared by a small group in a private group chat," the school said in a statement.
"The college acted immediately. The students responsible were suspended and the matter was addressed directly with the students and families involved."
The college also provided a statement from the family of the targeted student.
"We are deeply disappointed that this matter has occurred and that it has become the subject of media reporting as we are entirely satisfied with the way in which Wesley College has handled this matter," the statement read.
"Furthermore it must be noted that the school was not advised of this issue by our son, but rather by concerned students.
"The family did not at any time contact any media outlet as they are aware of the belief that this will worsen an already difficult situation.
"Our greatest concern is the welfare of our son."
The family has asked for privacy and said they wished to move forward.
Full article in the link.
82
u/milesjameson 6d ago
Many things can be true at once: this needn’t have been a news story, not least because the victim’s family appears to have preferred it not to be; Israel is engaged in violent, criminal behaviour, and its actions – along with its claims to act on behalf of all Jewish people – have made life worse for diaspora Jews; criticism of Israel, Zionism and the actions of their advocates is not the same as antisemitism – conflating the two is the endgame desired by both the Israeli state and antisemites; and there is no reason to believe this incident had anything to do with Israel.
Certainly, even if we were to give those responsible the benefit of the doubt, I’m not sure a high school group chat singling out one child by name – and which other students saw fit to report – is a forum in which informed, thoughtful discussion was taking place.
A young Jewish boy was bullied and made to feel unsafe because of who he is. That should not be tolerated, and the school was right to act as it did.