Lawmakers are set to hold a Congressional hearing on Wednesday to address alleged antisemitic incidents in K-12 schools, marking a significant focus on the issue. The hearing, scheduled for 10:15 am ET, will see leaders from three school districts in liberal cities - New York City, Berkeley, California, and Montgomery County, Maryland - facing tough questions about reports of antisemitism within their districts.
The hearing, organized by the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, aims to shed light on the prevalence of antisemitism in schools. The presence of a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union underscores the importance of addressing discrimination and harassment in educational settings.
Republicans are seizing the opportunity to challenge what they perceive as 'woke' policies that may foster hate speech. This hearing follows a trend of holding educational institutions accountable for addressing antisemitism, as evidenced by recent interrogations of Ivy League school presidents.
The US Department of Education has taken action by launching an investigation into the Berkeley Unified School District for alleged discrimination based on Jewish ancestry or Israeli heritage. The department's Office for Civil Rights will assess whether the district has complied with Title VI requirements to prevent discrimination and harassment.
Among the incidents reported at Berkeley are disturbing accounts of students shouting antisemitic remarks, including 'kill the Jews' and 'F— the Jews.' The complaint filed by the Brandeis Center outlines numerous instances of hate speech within the district.
Enikia Ford Morthel, the superintendent of the Berkeley Unified School District, is among the officials scheduled to testify at the hearing. She will be joined by David Banks, chancellor of New York City Public Schools, and Karla Silvestre, president of the Montgomery County Board of Education.
