Federal complaint alleges MCPS failed to protect student against antisemitism at Blair

[Maryam Shahzad]

Update Oct. 20: This story was updated to include statements from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, and Montgomery County Public Schools

A federal civil rights complaint alleges that Montgomery County Public Schools failed to protect a Jewish student dealing with repeated antisemitism at Montgomery Blair High School, according to a press release issued on Monday.

Just hours earlier, it was announced that the Supreme Court will hear a case from parents alleging discrimination toward Asian American students in MCPS’ magnet middle school admissions process.

The Brandeis Center has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. According to the complaint, the student graduated from Blair in Silver Spring this year. He had transferred to Blair from Northwood High after experiencing repeated antisemitic harassment there. He is an Orthodox Jew who wore a kippah and visible tzitzit, which is a type of religious wear. In his senior year, he experienced antisemitic targeting, including a phone threat to bomb him that called him a “Zionist Jew.” The call was followed immediately by fireworks at his home. After a public announcement of his plans to study in Israel, students responded with accusations of genocide, circulated rumors that he was joining the Israel Defense Forces and urged classmates to shun him as a “Zionist.” He cut back on his attendance and left school early during the final weeks of his senior year due to fear of confrontation or physical harm.

Blair High School was given repeated notice of the harassment, according to the complaint. The school took some protective steps, including “supportive arrangements and plans for school and graduation security,” but those steps did not restore his ability to fully participate in school life. According to the complaint, MCPS’ response “failed to address the cumulative intimidation and exclusion that created a hostile environment.”

“School administrators have no justification for failing to respond effectively to anti-Semitic harassment under their watch,” said Kenneth Marcus, chairman and CEO of the Brandeis Center. “An explicit anti-Jewish bomb threat should leave no doubt about the seriousness of the danger or the urgent need for an effective response from school leadership.”

An MCPS spokesperson said in a written statement to MCM on Tuesday, “Montgomery County Public Schools is aware of the complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. As this is an ongoing matter, we are unable to provide further comment at this time.”

On Tuesday, Guila Franklin Siegel, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Washington, released a statement saying that the organization is aware of the complaint and had worked closely with the student and his family.

“While the JCRC is not a party to this action, we worked closely with the affected child and family during the time period in question, urging MCPS to take stronger steps to ensure the student’s safety in the face of relentless antisemitic bullying.” According to Siegel, JCRC advocates for dozens of Jewish families every year whose kids experience school-based antisemitism, and “This case was one of the more difficult we have encountered.”

She thanked the Brandeis Center and said JCRC will continue urging MCPS to take proactive steps like better teacher and staff training, additional Holocaust and Jewish peer education and stronger enforcement of social media guidelines.

“The complaint filed last week speaks to the devastating and long-term consequences of antisemitism on children and families — and the considerable work that remains for MCPS to properly address it,” Siegel stated.

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