A University of Sydney staffer was charged with intimidation offenses on Monday after allegedly harassing Jewish students and staff holding a holiday event on campus, New South Wales Police announced.
The 53-year-old woman was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of stalking or intimidation and one count of offensive conduct over an October 9 altercation with attendees of a Sukkot holiday stand. She was released on bail and is set to appear before Newtown Local Court in February.
The staffer had allegedly yelled antisemitic comments at Jewish students and staff, with the Australian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) sharing at the time a video of her calling Sukkot celebrants "parasites."
“A Zionist is the lowest form of rubbish,” the staffer could be heard saying in an October 9 video published on Instagram. “You are a disgusting baby killer.”
An attack on Jews to exist on campus
AUJS said at the time that the slurs, physical threat, and harassment by the staff member were not just an attack on Jewish students and faculty members in attendance, but on the very right of Jews to exist on campus at all.
“This is yet another example of the deeply concerning rise in antisemitism across Australian campuses,” AUJS said in a statement. “Jewish students should be able to celebrate their traditions and contribute fully to campus life with confidence and without fear.”
The staffer was suspended later that October, according to University of Sydney’s senior deputy vice chancellor and provost Annamarie Jagose.
“A formal process to respond to the incident is now well underway. This includes further assessment of the incident and consideration of relevant information,” Jagoes said in October.
“Hate speech, antisemitism, and harassment have no place at our university. Where our codes are breached, we will not hesitate to take disciplinary action. We sincerely apologize to any staff, students, or visitors who are distressed by this incident."