Dept of Ed launches investigation into Baltimore public schools over civil rights violations

The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has opened an investigation into Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) following allegations of widespread antisemitic discrimination and harassment targeting Jewish students.

The probe follows a complaint filed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the law firm Covington & Burling, representing the ADL pro bono. The complaint accuses BCPS of allowing “egregious and persistent discrimination and harassment” against Jewish students and alleges the district has “knowingly allowed its schools to become hostile environments for Jewish students, while neglecting to address numerous incidents of antisemitic harassment, bullying, and discrimination.”

The allegations include Nazi-inspired harassment by both teachers and non-Jewish students, verbal threats, and hateful graffiti. Despite investigations into misconduct, the complaint claims the district has failed to take adequate disciplinary action.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor condemned the reported behavior as "appalling and infuriating," stressing that such conduct goes beyond bullying to unlawful antisemitic harassment under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded education programs.

Among the most serious claims is that a BCPS teacher, found responsible for misconduct after reportedly threatening to "go all Nazi" on students and directing Nazi salutes at a Jewish student, remains employed. The complaint also describes students performing Nazi salutes on school grounds, defacing desks and textbooks with Nazi symbols, and uttering violent threats such as “all Jews should die” and calls for Hamas-related violence.

The ongoing harassment has reportedly left Jewish students feeling unsafe and fearful in their school environment, significantly impacting their ability to focus on their studies.

In response, Sherry Christian, media and public relations manager for Baltimore City Public Schools, told the Jewish News Syndicate, “We have condemned hateful behavior and taken action to hold students and staff accountable when our values and policies are violated.”

Trainor emphasized the importance of a safe, discrimination-free learning environment for all students and pledged that the Education Department would vigorously pursue the investigation to hold BCPS accountable.