Milei condemns anti-Semitic chants by school pupils on Bariloche trip

President Javier Milei has condemned a video of anti-Semitic chants by a group of secondary school students during an end-of-year trip.

“Reprehensible. Full stop,” Milei wrote on X on Sunday, tagging Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona and Human Capital Minister Sandra Pettovello, who oversees the education brief.

The message was a clear indication by the La Libertad Avanza leader that action should be taken. Within 24 hours, Cúneo Libarona had today filed a criminal complaint at the federal courts in Retiro.

In a short video circulating on social media, filmed inside a coach, teenagers can be heard chanting “today we burn Jews” in the style of football supporters.

A male adult can also be seen celebrating with his arm raised, while another – the group’s coordinator – is shown smiling.

Another group of students from the Jewish private school Escuela ORT was also travelling on the same bus, according to reports in local media.

The incident prompted an apology from Escuela Humanos, the private school to which the students belong. The trip was a recreational end-of-year trip to Bariloche in the southern Patagonia region, a traditional destination for school graduates.

“Escuela Humanos strongly condemns the behaviour of a group of pupils during their school-leavers’ trip. We also repudiate the conduct of the organising company and the coordinator in charge. We clarify that our institution has no connection whatsoever with their practices or messages,” the school said in a statement.

“The chants in no way reflect the values of our school, which are based on respect, inclusion, and democratic coexistence,” said the institution, based in Canning, Buenos Aires Province.

The institution noted that, in response to the incident, it had contacted the Delegation of Argentine Jewish Associations (DAIA) group to “undertake a process of education and review regarding what happened.”

“We therefore reaffirm our commitment against all forms of racism, anti-Semitism and hate speech,” the statement concluded.

Private travel firm Baxtter, which organised the trip, has also issued an apology. 

“Baxtter expresses its categorical and forceful rejection, making clear that we in no way share or condone the abhorrent remarks made by the group,” the company stated.

The case has been assigned by lottery to Federal Judge Sebastián Ramos. 

According to judicial sources, the investigation is based on alleged “incitement to commit a crime” under Article 3 of Law 23.592. 

It requests that the students, coordinators or tutors and bus-drivers be identified.

The complaint argues that the content of the video "implies a serious violation of human dignity and the moral integrity of people of the Jewish faith."

"There is no doubt about the role played by the individuals – who have not yet been identified – who chanted anti-Semitic slogans inciting genocide against people of the Jewish faith; the coordinators, tutors or managers of the tourism company Baxter Viajes Express SRL, all those who were present on the tourist bus on the day of the events and those who were responsible for disseminating this aberrant video," the writ reads.

Argentina is home to the largest Jewish community in Latin America, numbering between 200,000 and 300,000 members.

– TIMES/AFP/NA