Three Jewish advocacy groups have made a federal complaint against the Fulton County school district, alleging antisemitic bullying towards Jewish students during the Israel-Hamas war which began on Oct. 7. The complaint accuses administrators of failing to address harassment faced by Jewish and Israeli students, creating a hostile environment that allows antisemitism to flourish in schools.
The Fulton County district denied the allegations, stating that efforts to portray the district as promoting or tolerating antisemitism are false. The complaint was filed under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act with the U.S. Department of Education, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, and national origin.
This complaint is part of a broader wave of antisemitism allegations in schools and universities nationwide. The Anti-Defamation League filed a similar complaint against the Philadelphia school district in July, and the Department of Education has opened investigations into seven schools and universities over allegations of antisemitism or Islamophobia since the start of the Israel-Hamas War.
The activism against antisemitism in educational institutions surged following the outbreak of the war, during which Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in casualties and displacement. The complaint against Fulton County highlighted verbal attacks on Jewish students and raised concerns about certain displays of pro-Palestinian sentiment being intimidating.
Instances cited in the complaint include students wearing keffiyehs shouting “Free Palestine” at Jewish students and inappropriate pro-Palestinian positions taken by teachers in the classroom. Jewish parents met with school district leaders in October to address complaints of antisemitism and students representing Hamas, offering suggestions such as antisemitic training, which the district allegedly ignored.
The groups behind the complaint, including the Louis D. Brandeis Center For Human Rights Under Law, Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education, and the National Jewish Advocacy Center, have requested the district to condemn antisemitism, discipline individuals displaying antisemitic behavior, and enhance the experiences of Jewish students. The district asserts that it takes complaints seriously and investigates inappropriate behavior once reported.