SCOUTS’ DISHONOR IN THE UK..HURL THREATS AT JEWISH VETERANS
SCOUTRAGEOUS http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/11/14/scoutrageous-115875-21820672/
By Matt Blake; Tom Underwood 14/11/2009
A group of teenage Scouts disgraced a Remembrance parade by hurling death threats at Jewish veterans.
The vile louts – part of a 30-strong group of youngsters in uniform – yelled: “Let’s kill the Jews” as the old soldiers solemnly laid wreaths at a war memorial.
Jewish wartime hero Paul Freedman MBE, 84, angrily confronted them after leaving his tribute to the fallen.
He raged: “I was absolutely fuming when I heard what had happened.
“I told them that I was a Jew and spent four-and-a-half years in the RAF during World War Two and that Jewish people had sacrificed so much for freedom. They didn’t react to any of this.”
A senior police officer is also believed to have firmly reprimanded them.
Rev Lee Sunderland, who also heard the abuse in Romford, Essex, added: “It was even more shocking because of the nature of the group who were saying these things. I heard, ‘Here come the Jew.s. Let’s kill the Jews’. It was said four times – three times during the service of remembrance.”
And Jack Rose, of the town’s synagogue, added:”Someone has been completely stupid or they really think these things.”
The group, aged 14-18, had been in a procession that marched to the cenotaph in Romford, Essex, on Sunday. Police are probing the outrage under race-hate laws.
But chiefs at the youth organisation say they will not boot out the suspected ringleader or anyone else if they say sorry.
Scout county commissioner Dean Jefferys said: “I understand a senior officer spoke to all the Scouts at the time of the incident. I’m very upset by what happened and the behaviour of one Scout.
“Such behaviour is unacceptable. Scouting needs to address the issues raised in this isolated incident head on.”
Only one boy is said to have owned up to the sickening taunts. Mr Jeffreys added: “The young person will not be banned if he agrees to visit the Rabbi at the synagogue and offer an apology in person.
“Obnoxious comments like this have no place in scouting or our wider society. We will work hard to change the views of the young person concerned.”
Mr Jefferys also handed in a letter of apology to the local synagogue.
A Scouts spokesman added: “We were shocked and appalled to learn a Scout made offensive and distressing remarks during the Remembrance Sunday event.
“We’re working with police to make sure it is fully investigated.”
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: “We received two allegations of racially aggravated harassment that allegedly occured on Sunday November 8 in Romford.”
30,000 IN NAZI FIGHT
Tens of thousands of Jews joined the battle to bring down Nazi Germany.
Jews from across Europe stood side by side with British forces and battled on several fronts. The Jewish Infantry Brigade Group was formed, including some 30,000 Jewish volunteers from Palestine alone, 734 died.
One of the most daring units was The Jewish Commandos of the Special Interrogation Group. Some were German speaking and went on missions to infiltrate the enemy. They carried suicide pills to take rather than be captured.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/11/14/scoutrageous-115875-21820672/
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