The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) has expressed its strong concern about anti-Semitic comments posted on Channel seven’s Facebook page in response to its story about a stabbing near a synagogue in Melbourne. It also criticised the media company for allowing the thread of comments to remain on its page for nearly two days, and for failing to remove it at the time of this press release. Remarks by users included: “Someone probably dropped 10c and then 2 Jews fought to their deaths”, ”Probably they were fighting over 10 cent..”, “He asked them for a discount lol”, “They have all the money coz they’ve always been greedy”, “If the violence is between non Jews Jews profit”, “Like Bill Cosby said Jews no good”, “These Jews aren’t loyal”, “Stabbed or rabbed”, “Must mean more armed guards”, “Just brought back memories from working around there”.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“It goes without saying that I am outraged by the disturbing anti-Semitic comments posted on Channel Seven’s Facebook page. The users who exploited this news item to demonise Jews as greedy and money hungry, and to peddle these sweeping, bigoted stereotypes should be ashamed. As for Channel Seven, I expected more, and it’s really time for them to walk the walk. As we have said before, media companies need to put in place effective measures and policies to monitor and respond swiftly when their popular platforms are being abused to promote racist, hateful speech. They will not get a free pass if their pages are flooded by anti-Jewish posts and they are slow to remove them. It is our hope that following this incident, Channel Seven will have the good sense to implement better monitoring systems, and to remove such unacceptable, hurtful posts immediately before they are viewed by more users and spread virally across the net. We all have to take seriously our responsibility to foster tolerance, civility and respect in Australia.”
The Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677
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or visit our website at antidef.org.au