Two local Jewish groups to address reported Smithfield High School anti-Semitic hazing incident

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WLNE) — The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center will hold a press conference Thursday at 3:30 p.m. to address a reported anti-Semitic hazing incident involving members of the Smithfield High School football team.

The groups will hold the press conference at Twelve Acres Restaurant in Smithfield.

Five school football players were allowed to re-take the field after they allegedly hazed a freshman student, according to the two groups.

ABC6 learned from the Smithfield Police Department that a police report was filed in the alleged incident.

When reached for comment, Smithfield schools Superintendent Dawn Bartz said that the disciplinary process was complete and that no further comments would be offered as the matter involved students.

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green issued a joint statement in the matter reading in part:

When cruel and hateful actions happen in a school environment, we expect school and district leadership to conduct a thorough investigation.

Condemnation in the alleged incident has also came from Smithfield’s Town Manager Robert Seltzer, who stated in part:

While the incident occurred within the Smithfield public schools system, which operates independently under the direction of the superintendent and the school committee, we want to make it clear that the town of Smithfield does not condone such behavior in any form.