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Jewish Students Launch Campaign Against Polish “ghetto Benches”

October 18, 1938
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Jewish university students launched a nationwide drive today against efforts of the authorities to force them to occupy the government-sanctioned “ghetto benches,” instituted in polish universities last year.

At meetings in Warsaw, Kraicow, Wilno, Lwow and Poznan, the students decided to continue disregarding the “ghetto” regulations and not to occupy the benches assigned for Jews at the left side of all university classrooms. Since institution of the “ghetto” system, Jewish students have stood in the rear of classrooms rather than occupy the benches, leading to serious disorders.

The nationwide drive against the system of segregation, which has brought severe condemnation from educational leaders and organizations throughout the world, was precipitated by notices posted at wllno university ordering Jewish students to occupy the benches and by Warsaw University’s School of Commerce refusing admission to those who persisted in-ignoring the assigned seats.

The authorities today prohibited a congress to fight anti-Semitism, called by the Bund, Jewish Socialist party, for the near future.

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