Jewish parents across California have launched a sweeping lawsuit against the state, alleging that its public schools have become breeding grounds for “cruel, persistent and pervasive” antisemitism.
Filed on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court by the Louis D Brandeis Centre and pro-Israel group StandWithUs, the suit accuses California, its Department of Education, State Board of Education and Superintendent Tony Thurmond of allowing widespread harassment of Jewish and Israeli students.
Brought on behalf of multiple families in districts spanning the state, the filing argues that California’s education system is not merely failing to kerb antisemitism, but is, in some instances, enabling it.
Jewish students have allegedly been subject to antisemitic violence, threats and slurs from both their peers and teachers.
Several teachers are accused of silencing, mocking or disciplining Jewish students for expressing their identity, including wearing Star of David necklaces or Israel-related clothing,
“California teachers are too often not only the enablers but the perpetrators of antisemitic attacks against Jewish and Israeli students under their charge,” the lawsuit claims. The claimants go on to compare the treatment of Jewish students in California’s public schools to that in medieval Europe or the Soviet Union.
The lawsuit lists several alleged antisemitic incidents in schools, including a third-grade student reportedly being called “a racist” by her teacher and barred from performing in the talent show unless she agreed not to use her poster, which included a picture of the Israeli flag.
Listing other alleged instances, it goes on: “A Jewish girl’s classmates threatened to 'jump' her and referred to her only as 'Jew'. A Berkeley Unified ninth grader saw his art teacher display antisemitic artwork, including a Star of David with a fist punching through it. The same teacher promoted a walkout filled with chants that included, 'F*** the Jews'. When the student’s mother reported the teacher’s conduct, the school’s solution was to segregate the Jewish student in the library and health centre.
“Students at Berkeley Unified chanted ‘kill the Jews,’ and asked Jewish students what ‘their number is’ (a reference to the Nazi practice of tattooing numbers on the arms of concentration camp prisoners). At Etiwanda Unified, in San Bernardino County, a middle schooler choked a Jewish student while shouting, 'Shut your stupid Jew ass up'. Staff blamed the victimised student."
Examples in which Jewish parents were allegedly subject to antisemitic abuse were also highlighted. "A Pajaro Valley school board member publicly ranted against the Jewish community. At a Berkeley Unified school board meeting, a mother reporting slurs like 'k***s' and 'dirty Jews' was mocked (‘Zionist Nazi b****!’) and subsequently had her job information posted online."
Kenneth L Marcus, chairman of the Brandeis Centre and former US Assistant Secretary of Education during two presidential administrations, said: “The California education system is teaching the state’s children that Jewish Americans and Israelis are racists, white supremacists, oppressors, and baby-killers who should be shunned.
"The result is not surprising: Jewish children and children perceived as Jewish are bullied and excluded by their peers and harassed by their teachers, who silence, mock, and even segregate them if they speak out.
“School officials have done little or nothing at all to help these children. It is the state’s legal responsibility to defend and protect innocent children from discrimination and bigotry, not foster hate as California has been doing.”
Ivy Chesser, a high school parent who is participating in the lawsuit, said she chose to be a part of it because “I am afraid for the future my children will face after generations are allowed to be indoctrinated with antisemitism and anti-Americanism in our classrooms.”
Another parent, Mike Rosenthal, claimed his child felt unsafe expressing their Jewish identity in the schoolroom after an adult teacher was permitted to display anti-Jewish, anti-Israel, and anti-American materials in the classroom.
“When the teacher set that tone, it signalled to students that hostility toward Jewish identity was acceptable, and that is exactly what happened as other students joined in. No child should ever be put in a position where they feel they must hide who they are in order to feel safe.”
“California has some of the strongest laws and policies aimed at protecting Jewish residents from anti-Semitism, yet enforcement remains sparse, inconsistent and lacks accountability,” said Robert Trestan, vice president of Anti-Defamation League West.
"Jewish students are increasingly targeted because of their identity and exposed to lesson plans containing antisemitism and anti-Israel narratives. It is time for California officials to deliver on their promise of schools and classrooms that are free of hate. Our children cannot afford to wait any longer."
According to figures cited in the lawsuit supporting statements from Jewish community leaders, there are roughly 50,000 Jewish children attending public schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District alone, which has a total enrollment of more than half a million students.
The state is yet to formally respond to the suit.
However, discussing a separate antisemitism suit filed by the Trump administration against UCLA on Tuesday, a spokesperson for California Governor Gavin Newsom did issue a statement regarding antisemitism in California’s education system.
They said: “Antisemitism is vile and disgusting.
“As Donald Trump dines with neo-Nazis like Nick Fuentes, California has been unequivocal that antisemitism has no place in our schools, our universities, or our communities.
“Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, the state has implemented the nation’s strongest anti-discriminatory policies to fight bigotry and hate.”
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