The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has filed a 49-page civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) against the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). The complaint accuses the district of allowing a hostile environment for Jewish students throughout the school year, following a series of antisemitic incidents since the October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel.

According to the complaint, the district has witnessed numerous instances of antisemitic behavior, including students chanting “kill the Jews” and the appearance of swastika graffiti. Teachers have allegedly spread propaganda in classrooms, and some Jewish teachers have reportedly faced retaliation, leading to a wave of retirements. The complaint claims that concerns from parents have been ignored, further exacerbating the situation.

ADL senior director of litigation, James Pasch, stated, “Since the Oct. 7 attack, the Philadelphia Schools have fostered a toxic environment that has allowed antisemitism against Jewish students to metastasize and fester without repercussions.” He added that a culture of retaliation and fear has discouraged Jewish parents and students from speaking out.

The ADL is urging the OCR to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs receiving federal assistance. The ADL argues that the facts necessitate OCR’s intervention to ensure the district complies with federal civil rights laws.

The complaint highlights several alarming incidents, such as a Jewish student leaving the district after being harassed with phrases like “f—k you and free Palestine” and “Praise Hitler.” In another case, a student dressed as a terrorist for Halloween attempted to drape a Palestinian flag over a Jewish student, with the principal allegedly praising the costume.

Classrooms have also been sites of discrimination, with teachers reportedly using their platform to shame students. One teacher allegedly labeled Israel as “exterminators” and streamed videos accusing the country of displacing Palestinians. The ADL has redacted the teacher’s name in the complaint to protect witnesses.

Further allegations include a teacher claiming that Judaism originated in Ethiopia and responding to an Ashkenazi Jewish student’s challenge by stating, “Ashkenazi Jews are people from Europe who were forced to convert so that Jews could stay in power.” The teacher also reportedly compared Israel’s self-defense to blaming a lynching victim for struggling at the noose, referencing the Houthis’ slogan, which includes “curse the Jews.”

Andrew Goretsky, ADL Philadelphia regional director, expressed concern over the rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7, emphasizing that such behavior alienates Jewish students and staff. He called for immediate action to address the issue, stating, “Jewish students face a shameful and pervasive litany of antisemitic harassment from their peers, and teachers and administrators, the professionals tasked with our children’s education. This pattern is dangerous, completely unacceptable, and needs to stop now.”

The complaint accuses the district of ignoring parental concerns and punishing students rather than addressing the root of discriminatory conduct. In some cases, students have been transferred out of classes taught by problematic teachers, and a principal publicly criticized a concerned parent during a school assembly.

The ADL contends that the district’s lack of transparency and response to these allegations signals indifference to the Jewish community. The complaint asserts that without intervention from the OCR, Jewish students in the district remain unprotected in a climate of hostility and retaliation.

ADL data indicates that antisemitism in K-12 schools has increased annually this decade. In 2023, antisemitic incidents in U.S. public schools rose by 135%, including vandalism and assaults. The ADL’s Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents 2023 reports that school-based harassment often goes unreported, suggesting that actual incidents may exceed documented cases.

The Philadelphia complaint is part of a broader trend of civil rights challenges filed with the OCR. Last month, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law reached a settlement with the Community School of Davidson in North Carolina after filing a complaint about antisemitic incidents. The school agreed to implement a zero-tolerance policy for racist abuse, provide anti-discrimination training, and revise its approach to handling racial bigotry.

The Brandeis Center has previously filed complaints on behalf of K-12 students, including a February filing against the Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) in California, alleging severe psychological trauma and a hostile environment for Jewish students as young as eight years old.