Last week, a sign appeared in central Wellington. It read: “I hated Jews before it was cool.” Shocking, hateful, and deeply disturbing. And yet, it passed with barely a whisper from political leaders or the media. It was a test — and Minister Christopher Bishop took note. What if the sign had said “I hated Māoris before it was cool” or “I hated Muslims before it was cool”? Would the response have been the same?

Let’s imagine. Almost certainly, headlines would have exploded across news sites. Outrage would have swept through social media. Thought leaders and commentators would have written long opinion pieces. The Prime Minister would likely have condemned it in Parliament. There would have been media interviews, tears, calls for inquiries, and maybe even protests in the streets. And rightly so.

But when the hate is aimed at Jewish people, silence follows. The quiet is not only strange — it is alarming. This silence reveals a disturbing truth: anti-Semitism is too often tolerated, ignored, or downplayed. It is not seen as real racism. But it is. It has always been. And it is growing.

Minister Bishop has not directly commented on the sign. However, his actions in testing public reaction speak louder than words. His office monitored media responses and social media trends. The result? Almost no one spoke up. No statement from Mayor Tory Whānau. No outrage from Green MP Julie Anne Genter. Not a tweet from Councillor Tamatha Paul. These are politicians known for speaking out strongly against racism. Their silence is deafening.

It must be said: all racism is wrong. It must be called out every time. It does not matter who it targets. Jews, Muslims, Māori, Asians, Pasifika — hatred is hatred. No community should feel ignored or less protected. But in this case, the difference in reaction is impossible to ignore.

Wellington is proud of its diversity. The city often leads when it comes to human rights and social justice. It is quick to react when injustice is visible. But this time, it looked the other way. Why?

Some might say it’s because Jewish people are seen as privileged. This idea is not only false — it is dangerous. It feeds into old lies that have led to discrimination and violence for centuries. Jews have been a target of hate in nearly every country, in every generation. From pogroms to the Holocaust to modern-day terror, the threats are real.

Anti-Semitism does not always shout. Sometimes, it whispers. It hides behind jokes, behind false balance, or in the blind spot of progressives who claim to stand against all racism. That blind spot was exposed last week in Wellington.

The sign itself was eventually removed, but not because of a flood of public anger. It came down quietly. The outrage never came. The news never broke. This is the kind of silence that allows hate to grow. When racism goes unchallenged, it spreads. When people do not speak, hate becomes normal.

One Network Wellington Live believes the city deserves better. Racism must never be ranked or picked apart based on politics or popularity. A racist message against any group must be treated with the same seriousness. If the media and leaders only speak up for some, they fail everyone.

We must ask hard questions now. Why is anti-Semitism not taken as seriously as other forms of hate? Why do some leaders speak loudly for some victims, but not for others? And what will it take for Wellington to face this uncomfortable truth?

It is not enough to claim to be anti-racist. One must act, always, and for everyone. That means recognising that Jewish people face real threats. It means understanding that hate speech can lead to hate crime. And it means leaders standing up every single time — not just when the victim fits a certain narrative.

Wellington can still be a city that leads. But leadership means consistency. It means courage. It means calling out racism in all its forms — even when it’s not trending. Even when it makes people uncomfortable. And especially when silence is easier.

This moment is not just about one sign. It’s a test of values. Christopher Bishop may have tested Wellington’s racist pulse — and the result was worrying. But it is not final. People can speak now. Leaders can act now. The media can still do its job. And the city can still prove that hate has no home here.

Let this be the moment Wellington wakes up. Not just for Jews. Not just for one community. But for all of us. Because if hate is ignored in one place, it is encouraged in every place. Let the silence end today.