"As Holocaust survivors, we understand the danger of hateful words because we have seen where such words lead. Let us be clear: praising Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not banter. Not in a playground. Not anywhere. When allegations arise about invoking Nazi attitudes toward Jewish children, the responsible response is honesty, reflection, and commitment to truth. So we ask you: did you say Hitler was right' and gas them,' mimicking gas chambers? Did you subject your classmates to antisemitic abuse?"
"The survivors include Hedi Argent, who lost 27 members of her family in the Holocaust. Another member of the group, Simon Winston, was held in a ghetto before escaping in September 1942 and spending the rest of the war in hiding. Another signatory is Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau where she spent nearly a year. In October 1944, she was moved to Bergen-Belsen, where she was liberated by the British in April 1945."
"Their intervention follows comments made by Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, to describe the testimony of more than two dozen people as made-up twaddle. Since the Guardian published its investigation about Farage two weeks ago, more contemporaries have come forward. Twenty-eight former pupils and teachers say they witnessed racist or antisemitic behaviour by him at Dulwich College in south London."
Nigel Farage has said he never racially abused anyone with intent but may have engaged in playground banter. Eleven Holocaust survivors have written to demand he tell the truth and apologise for alleged antisemitic comments toward Jewish pupils, warning that hateful words can lead to grave consequences. The survivors asked whether Farage said 'Hitler was right' and mimicked gas chambers or subjected classmates to antisemitic abuse. Signatories include Hedi Argent, Simon Winston and Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, who survived Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen. Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice described more than two dozen testimonies as 'made-up twaddle'. Twenty-eight former pupils and teachers say they witnessed racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage at Dulwich College.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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