Argentinian President Javier Milei strongly condemned a video depicting high school students shouting, “Today, we burn the Jews” on a tour bus in Buenos Aires.
The video shows students from the Humanos school in Buenos Aires chanting the antisemitic slogan while on a graduation trip on September 10 organized by a tour operator named Baxtter.
The tour coordinator seemingly joined in the chanting rather than intervening, as did one of the accompanying fathers. The video was first circulated on Sunday by X/Twitter user Dani Lerer, who told La Nación that it was sent to him directly.
Milei retweeted the video, calling it reprehensible.
The school itself condemned the incident in a public statement on Sunday evening, saying it “strongly rejects the actions of the group of students” and the “attitude of the organizing company and the coordinator in charge.”
The school added that it has no ties to the Baxxter organization’s practices or beliefs.
“The chants disseminated do not in any way represent the values of our school, which is based on respect, inclusion, and democratic coexistence.”
The school added that it has been in contact with the Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA) to review the incident. The DAIA is the umbrella organization of Argentina’s Jewish community.
“We hereby renew our commitment against all forms of racism, antisemitism, and hate speech,” said the school.
Tour operator makes amends
The operator, Baxtter, also released a statement stressing its “categorical and emphatic rejection” of the “abhorrent statements expressed by the group” and stating that it will put necessary measures in place to ensure it never happens again.
A while later, the organization posted a video showing its members had attended a meeting at the DAIA about antisemitism.
On Monday, Baxtter confirmed that it has dismissed the group coordinator and has requested he be permanently removed from the Argentinian Society of Travel Coordinators.
The DAIA released a statement announcing that its Legal Assistance Department will file a criminal complaint for incitement to persecution or hatred to determine the individual responsibilities of the case.
Argentinian lawyer Jorge Monastersky announced on Monday that he has also filed a criminal complaint for discriminatory acts against the Jewish community, as provided for in Law No. 23,592.
As part of the complaint (filed with the prosecutor), he requested urgent measures to preserve the digital evidence, conduct forensic computer analysis, and summon the identified accused to address the facts under investigation.
He also requested that X not remove the content of the post, including the video, until it has been safeguarded.