February 16, 2000
Students Demonstrate Against
Racism in Austria
17 Peaceful Protests Held Around the World
Today, Wednesday, February 16, 2000, at 4:00 PM (GMT) Jews and
Gentiles gathered for peaceful demonstrations in 17 cities
around the world as an expression of deep dismay at the inclusion of the Freedom Party,
under the leadership of Jorg Haider, in the new Austrian government formed by President
Thomas Klestil.
Bnei Akiva
and Yavne Olami – two
international student organizations led the day of protests with a demonstration on the
Italian/Austrian border. The Ezra Youth Movement, Religious Zionist Forum, Mishmeret Tzeira of Religious Zionism, The National Conference of Synagogue Youth, World Union
of Jewish Students, World Mizrachi Movement, Hamagshimim-Hadassah, Young Judea, Kedmah,
Beitar-Tagar, Teen-to-Teen, American Network for Jewish Youth, Lausanne Union of Jewish
Students, and the Jewish Agency are among the dozens of organizations that joined with the
students in initiating the global response.
"The focus of today’s peaceful gatherings was to show
support for the Austrian people and the Austrian government," said Ari Harrow,
Director of Yavne Olami. "Jews and Gentiles from nations around the globe came
together to send the message that the world community stands behind Austria and that the
government need not ally itself with the ultranationalist freedom party."
In addition to the main event at the Italian/Austrian border,
demonstrations against racism also took place in front of local Austrian Embassies and
Consulates in London, Paris, Sidney, Melbourne, Antwerp, Lusanne, Stockholm, Capetown, Tel
Aviv and Jerusalem. Simultaneous U.S. protests were held in New York, Washington, DC, Los
Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Cleveland and Seattle.
In New York City, students from Stern College, Columbia University,
Barnard College, CUNY’s Brooklyn, Queens, Baruch, Hunter and City Colleges, New York
University Law School and the Frisch and Ramaz high schools joined in protests outside the
Austrian Consulate on Manhattan’s East 69th street, with students from
Yeshiva University and the university’s Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Cardozo
Law School and Sy Syms School of Business.
Student leaders from around the world are now in contact with one
another and will be creating future events on a larger scale, utilizing the right of
peaceful protest in combination with the global resources of the internet and other forms
of technology. The Orthodox Union will continue to assist in the facilitation of protest
events by maintaining a special information section on its website @ www.ou.org as well as by fielding phone calls and
e-mail messages from concerned individuals and major religious groups around the world.
"It is our hope that Mr. Haider will resign from his position
within the Austrian government immediately. However, we are prepared to continue our
efforts throughout the world until that ultimate goal is achieved," said Mr. Harrow.
MORE INFORMATION: Organizations interested in joining the
effort, please contact Mike Cohen at 212.613.8176 or visit the OU website at www.ou.org for regular demonstration updates. Members of
the press, please contact Sharyn Perlman at 212.613.8321.
The Orthodox Union, now in its second century of service to the
Jewish community of America and beyond, is the world leader in youth work,
advocacy for the disabled, synagogue services,
adult education and political action. Its kosher supervision label, the OU, is the world's most
recognized kosher symbol and can be found on nearly 250,000 products in 68 countries
around the globe.
###
www.ou.org
Comments?
Requests? Questions?
 Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations
of America
Department of Public Relations
Sharyn Perlman, Director
Main Office:
11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
Phone: 212-613-8321 Fax: 212-564-9058
E-mail: media@ou.org |
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