Current:Home > InvestJewish groups file federal complaint alleging antisemitism in Fulton schools -StockSource
Jewish groups file federal complaint alleging antisemitism in Fulton schools
View
Date:2025-04-17 21:02:44
ATLANTA (AP) — Three Jewish advocacy groups filed a federal complaint against the Fulton County school district over alleged antisemitic bullying against Jewish students since the Israel-Hamas war broke out on Oct. 7.
The complaint said administrators failed to take action when Jewish and Israeli students faced harassment. The school district “has fostered a hostile climate that has allowed antisemitism to thrive in its schools,” the complaint said.
In a written statement, the Fulton County district denied the allegations. “The private group’s efforts to depict Fulton County Schools as promoting or even tolerating antisemitism is false,” the statement said.
The organizations filed the complaint under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act with the U.S. Department of Education on Aug. 6. Title IV prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin.
The complaint follows a wave of antisemitism allegations against schools and universities across the country. The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy group, filed a similar complaint in July against the Philadelphia school district, one of the country’s largest public school systems. In November, the Department of Education announced investigations into seven schools and universities over alleged antisemitism or Islamophobia since the start of the Israel-Hamas War.
Activism erupted in universities, colleges and schools when the war began. On Oct. 7, Hamas killed 1,200 people and took hostages in an attack against Israel. Over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Some estimates say about 1.9 million people have been displaced from Gaza.
The Fulton County complaint listed verbal attacks against Jewish students since Oct. 7, but it also described certain displays of pro-Palestinian sentiment as intimidating. The groups took issue with students wearing keffiyehs, a scarf that has become a symbol for the Palestinian movement. The complaint said that the day after the attacks by Hamas, students wearing keffiyehs shouted “Free Palestine” at Jewish students, a slogan the groups labeled “a rallying cry for the eradication of Israel.”
Other instances detailed in the complaint involve a high school student cursing at an Israeli student in Arabic, and a middle school student telling an Israeli peer, “Somebody needs to bomb your country, and hey, somebody already did.” In the classroom, the complaint said that some of the pro-Palestinian positions teachers took were inappropriate.
Jewish parents met with Fulton County school district leaders in late October after several complaints about antisemitism and “other students cosplaying as members of Hamas,” the complaint said. Parents offered to arrange antisemitic training, among other suggested actions. The complaint says school district leadership declined to take action and ignored numerous complaints, including an email to the district’s superintendent signed by over 75 parents.
The district says it already takes complaints seriously.
“Like most, if not all, schools across the country, world events have sometimes spilled onto our campuses,” the district said in its statement. “Whenever inappropriate behavior is brought to our attention, Fulton County Schools takes it seriously, investigates, and takes appropriate action,” the statement reads.
The Louis D. Brandeis Center For Human Rights Under Law, Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education and the National Jewish Advocacy Center filed the complaint. The organizations asked the district to denounce antisemitism, discipline teachers and students for antisemitic behavior, and consider how to improve experiences for Jewish students.
veryGood! (8686)
Related
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Ecuadorians are picking a new president, but their demands for safety will be hard to meet
- The approved multistate wind-power transmission line will increase energy capacity for Missouri
- Sam's Club offers up to 70% discounts on new memberships through the weekend
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Man pleads guilty, gets 7 years in prison on charges related to Chicago officer’s killing
- New species of ancient scraper tooth shark identified at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky
- How long does retirement last? Most American men don't seem to know
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Final arguments are being made before Australia’s vote Saturday to create Indigenous Voice
Ranking
- Could Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft reunite? Maybe in Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class
- Social Security 2024 COLA at 3.2% may not be enough to help seniors recover from inflation
- Sam's Club offers up to 70% discounts on new memberships through the weekend
- I mean, it's called 'Dicks: The Musical.' What did you expect?
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- New study: Disability and income prevent Black Americans from aging at home
- Mexico takes mining company to court seeking new remediation effort for Sonora river pollution
- Arkansas lawmakers OK plan to audit purchase of $19,000 lectern for Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Recommendation
Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
Judge scolds prosecutors as she delays hearing for co-defendant in Trump classified documents case
China’s exports, imports fell 6.2% in September as global demand faltered
Republican challenger uses forum to try to nationalize Kentucky governor’s race
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
Thursday marks 25 years since Matthew Shepard's death, but activists say LGBTQ+ rights are still at risk
New Hampshire man pleads guilty to making threatening call to U.S. House member
Colorado judge strikes down Trump’s attempt to toss a lawsuit seeking to bar him from the ballot