Jewish Human Rights Group: San Antonio Spurs Star Must Apologize for Anti-Semitic Gesture

San Antonio Spurs superstar point guard Tony Parker (top right), a Frenchman, is under fire after being photographed this summer making the controversial “Quenelle” gesture with an anti-Semitic French comedian named Dieudonne. 

According to Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News, Parker and teammate Boris Diaw, who is also a Frenchman, have been photographed making that gesture. The Spurs are reportedly aware of the situation and will reportedly address the matter in the coming days, especially after pressure from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which considers the gesture to be “anti-Semitic” and is reportedly demanding an apology from Parker for “his past use” of the symbol: 

As a leading sports figure on both sides of the Atlantic, Parker has a special moral obligation to disassociate himself from a gesture that the government of France has identified as anti-Semitic.

The “Quenelle” gesture–a “right arm extended towards the ground, palm opened and the other one bent across his chest touching his right upper arm”–has been labelled as a “reversed Nazi salute and made famous a few years ago by” Dieudonné, “a French comedian from African background” who is under fire in France for his repeated use of the symbol.

Quenelle de Tony Parker ! #Dieudonné #Anelka pic.twitter.com/U8hkaVOm0U” a ouais il est fière celui la en plus”