Jewish Group Denounces Australian State Police Intimidation of Jewish Youth

The Jewish Council of Melbourne has issued a statement denouncing the interrogation by the police of the state of Victoria of Jewish youth on their activities in Jewish organizations. The statement reads:

“For the past few weeks, police officers have been visiting the homes of Jewish youths in Carlton and St. Kilda intimidating parents in an attempt to frighten Jewish young people away from Jewish youth organizations. Although the police have mostly confined their attention to the parents, a number of youths have been spoken to by the police and threats of deportation made where the young people were born overseas. The organizations which the police alleged were engaged in anti-British or Communist activity were such non-political bodies as the Kadimah Younger Group, and the Hatkivah. With the exception of four of the twelve people concerned none of the persons had any political associations whatsoever.

“The Jewish Council is extremely concerned over this attempted intimidation of the Jewish Community, and this confirms its belief that the present witch hunt engendered by the legislation before Parliament will spread to increasingly wider sections if unchecked by the people of Australia. It is a sinister fact that the police have confined their investigations to the Jewish community. The Jewish Council has requested the Board of Deputies to make the strongest representation against this development.”