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Did a pro-Palestine protester chant 'Heil Hitler' at UW-Madison Jewish students?

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Rachel Hale
By Rachel HaleMay 08, 2024
Rachel Hale
Rachel Hale, Wisconsin Watch is a contributor for The Fulcrum, a nonpartisan publication dedicated to strengthening democracy by fostering informed civic engagement and elevating diverse perspectives.
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This fact brief was originally published by Wisconsin Watch. Read the original here. Fact briefs are published by newsrooms in the Gigafact network, and republished by The Fulcrum. Visit Gigafact to learn more.

Did a pro-Palestine protester chant "Heil Hitler" at UW-Madison Jewish students?

No.

On April 29, a man agitated a group of Jewish students and a Hillel staff member standing near the University of Wisconsin-Madison pro-Palestine encampment and did a raised-hand Nazi salute toward them, but did not shout "Heil Hitler."

Multiple UW-Madison Jewish students and encampment organizers who were at the scene confirmed to Wisconsin Watch that the agitator was not affiliated with the demonstration group and didn't shout the Nazi slogan.

Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, who represents northern Wisconsin, claimed in an April 30 social media post based on an inaccurate Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report that pro-Palestine protesters chanted "Heil Hitler” at UW-Madison students.

Students said they were standing peacefully when the man approached them and started sharing his thoughts on the war.

In a video from the incident, the man admits to doing the salute. UW police are investigating. A police spokesperson confirmed the salute was reported, not the slogan.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Justin Kay 4/29UWMadison.mov

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