Prahran school protest called off
A pro-Hamas Prahran High School teacher made controversial statements at a pro-Palestine rally, which threatened to draw rival protest groups to demonstrate outside Prahran High School on the day they started school.
Naomi Levin
VCE science and biology teacher Jason Wong told participants at the Melbourne rally last month, “Hamas was doing exactly what they had to do”. It has been reported that the teacher has been stood down and faces a misconduct complaint, and the Victorian Department of Education is investigating his conduct.
The protest group The Unsilent Majority had planned a protest against the teacher’s remarks on the first day of school for students at Prahran High School. But on finding out that the Department had stood down Mr Wong, they commended the Department and called off their protest.
An opposing group, Trade Unionists for Palestine, had planned a counter-protest outside the school, also on Wednesday, to “say no to Zionist harassment and silencing, and to stand in solidarity with Jason.” Since The Unsilent Majority called off their rally, the Trade Unionists for Palestine rally shifted their protest venue to outside the Education Department in Treasury Place, Melbourne. They also deny that the teacher was stood down and claim that the teacher faces threats and possible deregistration from the Department.
Naomi Levin, CEO of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, said, “Our priority is making sure that all Jewish students returning to school this week can do so safely and free of harassment.
While the conduct of the teacher involved has caused serious concern, we have been informed that the Department of Education is investigating him. We are waiting for the outcome of this investigation.
According to parents at the school, Prahran High School’s principal and school leadership are taking necessary action to prevent any protest from impacting students.
There is no place for inflammatory protests or demonstrations outside any school.”
David Southwick, the Liberal state member for Caulfield, told J-Wire, “Anyone who defends Hamas’ terrorist acts of rape, torture, and mass murder is morally repugnant and has no place in our school system. But if grown adults think the solution is to turn a high school into a battleground for clashing protestors, then they’re completely and utterly wrong”.
