Jewish Advocacy Groups File Complaint on Antisemitism in Schools

ATLANTA (AP) — Three Jewish advocacy groups have lodged a federal complaint against the Fulton County school district, alleging a failure to address antisemitic bullying directed at Jewish students since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7. The complaint asserts that the district has created a hostile environment that permits antisemitism to flourish, with specific incidents of harassment detailed, including students wearing keffiyehs and shouting slogans perceived as anti-Israel. The complaint, filed under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act with the U.S. Department of Education, follows a broader trend of antisemitism allegations surfacing in schools and universities nationwide. In November, the Department of Education initiated investigations into several institutions regarding claims of antisemitism and Islamophobia linked to the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in significant casualties and displacement in Gaza. Specific incidents cited in the complaint include verbal harassment of Jewish students, with one high school student reportedly cursing at an Israeli peer and another middle school student making threats. The groups also criticized the perceived bias of some teachers in the classroom, claiming that pro-Palestinian sentiments were expressed inappropriately. In response, the Fulton County school district has denied the allegations, stating that it takes reports of inappropriate behavior seriously and investigates them thoroughly. The advocacy groups are calling for the district to publicly denounce antisemitism, implement disciplinary measures, and enhance the educational experience for Jewish students.