Station Picks Nazi Symbol to Go With Yom Kippur Report

Chicago's WGN is 'extremely embarrased' for 'offensive image'
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 24, 2015 11:33 AM CDT
Station Picks Nazi Symbol to Go With Yom Kippur Report
Screenshot of WGN newscast that used the offensive symbol.   (Twitter)

For a news report last night commemorating Yom Kippur, a Chicago TV station selected a Star of David as accompanying artwork—except someone picked the absolute worst one possible, USA Today reports. As the anchor talked about the holiday during the broadcast, a graphic appeared of a yellow star with the word "Jude" ("Jew" in German) against a blue-and-white-striped background, which resembled the badge Nazis used to separate Jewish people from the rest of society, the New York Times notes.

About half an hour later came the station apology on Twitter: "We are truly sorry for inadvertently using an offensive image in our story. We apologize and deeply regret the error." The station's "extremely embarrassed" GM and news director also posted a statement online noting they "failed to recognize that the artwork we chose to accompany the story contained an offensive symbol" and that they'll be reviewing the graphics-selection process. "Ignorance is not an excuse," they wrote. (Hallmark had to yank "swastika" Hanukkah wrapping paper last year.)

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