Dob in desecrators of Jewish graves – Race Relations Commissioner
Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy has described an attack on Jewish graves in Dunedin as “gutless, shameful
and ignorant” and urged anyone with information on the offenders to contact Police.
“It’s up to everyday Kiwis to decide what kind of country we live in: it’s up to us to let hatemongers know we won’t
ignore them and we won’t stand by – please dob these people in,” said Dame Susan.
“New Zealanders of all ethnicities and religions have fought and died for our human rights. We should remember and
honour them by standing up for the human rights of those Jewish Kiwis whose final resting place was desecrated this
week.”
“Less than a month ago I met with some of the most incredible New Zealanders I’ll ever meet, our own Kiwi Holocaust
survivors. Their testimony reminds us all that hate starts small: but so too does hope.”
Every year the Human Rights Commission responds to thousands of enquiries and complaints and approximately a third of
them are to do with racial discrimination. This year marked the tenth year of the Commission’s Diversity Programme -
launched in the wake of attacks on Jewish graves in 2004.
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