FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 12, 2018 Contact: Elana Kahn, Director, Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation – elanak@milwaukeejewish.org or 414-403-3705 Debbie Minkoff, Acting Interim Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Madison – ExecutiveDirector@jewishmadison.org or 608-695-1777 Michael Blumenfeld, Wisconsin Jewish Conference – mblumenfeld@mblumenfeld.org or 608-575-8018 Jessica Gall, Senior Associate Regional Director, ADL Midwest – jgall@adl.org or 312-520-2574 Statement on Baraboo High School Photo We are alarmed by the disturbing display of anti-Semitism by a group of Baraboo High School students. Though the incident apparently took place last May, it reflects a rising swell of anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry. We are particularly concerned with the prevalence of bigotry within schools; more than 25 percent of all the recorded anti-Semitic incidents in Wisconsin last year took place among students or on campus. We have witnessed numerous egregious incidents targeting African Americans, Latinos, and other minority groups. We appreciate the school district’s comment and look forward to working with them to prevent any future such incidents. As we know, acts of hate begin with hateful expressions. Such expressions must be a call to action for schools and families to educate youth to respect diversity and to embrace difference. The values that will hold us together must be taught and reinforced, lest we see the continued rise of hate and its consequences. Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation Jewish Federation of Madison Wisconsin Jewish Conference ADL Midwest Co-Signers (list in formation)…. see next page…. Co-Signers (list in formation) Congregation Emanu El B’ne Jeshurun Social Action Committee Congregation Shalom Congregation Sinai Greater Milwaukee Synod, ELCA, The Rev. Paul D. Erickson, Bishop Just Be Hope United Methodist Center, Rev. Deborah Thompson League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Wisconsin MA'RUF -- Aamer Ahmed, President Masjid Al Qur’an Milwaukee, Hafiz Muhammad Shafique Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Church, Rev. Tory V. Topjian, Senior Pastor Milwaukee Zen Center, Rev. Tonen O’Connor, Resident Priest Emerita Milwaukee Islamic Dawah Center The Spark Wisconsin, Rabbi Moishe Steigmann Wisconsin Conference, United Church of Christ, Rev. Franz Rigert, Conference Minister Underwood Memorial Baptist Church, Rev. Kate Fields, Pastor University of Wisconsin Hillel Foundation Wisconsin Council of Churches, Rev. Kerri Parker, Executive Director Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice, Rabbi Bonnie Margolis YWCA Southeast Wisconsin Rabbi Mordechai Cohen, Director of Religious Programming, Park Plaza Retirement Center, Chicago Rev. Dr. Steven Hecky, United Church of Christ - Wisconsin Rev. Erik Koepnick Tim McMurtry II, Associate Pastor, World Outreach Center and State Director, Christians United for Israel - Wisconsin