A Toronto School Is Investigating After Students Reportedly Performed The 'Hitler Salute'

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For the second time this February, a Toronto school is investigating an antisemitic incident involving a Nazi salute.

Valley Park Middle School in Toronto wrote a letter to parents on February 17 saying that it was "upsetting and unacceptable."

According to the letter, three students performed the "Hilter salute" in front of classmates. The school said it took immediate steps to address the issue and is investigating further.

"We are committed to the work of intentionally identifying, interrupting, and addressing racism and discrimination in our school, with a focus on antisemitism," the letter said.

Mayor John Tory said in a tweet on February 22 that "the incident at Valley Park Middle School is as sad as it is hurtful and obviously unacceptable. It is extremely troubling to see antisemitic acts, especially among young people, happening in our community."

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) took to Twitter on February 22, stating that they are "calling for emergency action from the [Toronto District School Board] following news of students performing the Nazi salute in front of a Jewish teacher at a Toronto school."

The non-profit human rights organization said they spoke to the teacher of the grade 8 classroom and said that she remains "deeply traumatized."

FSWC said that "according to the teacher, two students stood up on a filing cabinet and performed the Nazi salute, after which a third student shouted 'Heil Hitler' from his desk."

Valley Park Middle School said it takes incidents like these "very seriously."

The middle school said that in the first week of March, students would see a presentation by the Carrying Holocaust Testimony, in which they will learn about the history and lessons of the Holocaust from survivors and their descendants.

This isn't the first time this month an incident like this has occurred at a Toronto school. Charles H. Best Middle School reported that two students performed a Nazi salute in front of classmates and "depicted" swastikas on February 1, according to CBC.