Leader of lifeguards’ union levels accusations of anti-Semitism

[oberliner]

Jewish lifeguards draw line in the sand

Leader of lifeguards’ union at Jones Beach levels accusations of anti-Semitism against state parks officials
BY WILLIAM MURPHY
Newsday Staff Writer

August 31, 2006

A leader of the lifeguards' union at Jones Beach has accused state officials who run the beach of singling out Jewish lifeguards for discipline.

Some of the lifeguards in question are also active in the union, according to the leader, Roy Lester, but he said the pattern is clear.

"Fact. The vast majority of our lifeguards are not Jewish. Fact: The vast majority of all threatened disciplines and denials of rights this year have been to lifeguards who are Jewish," Lester, 56, who is not Jewish, said in a weekly union newsletter earlier this month.

In another newsletter, he said that "it seems that blatant anti-Semitism is encouraged" in the agency -- the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

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