The Berkeley Unified School District is facing new scrutiny over antisemitism allegations from Capitol Hill.
A House committee has opened a federal investigation into three school districts across the country, including Berkeley.
A new complaint this week from Congressional leaders alleges that since the October 2023 Hamas attack, Jewish and Israeli students in Berkeley Unified have faced bullying and harassment.
In a letter to the district, the House committee on education and workforce said it is “deeply concerned” Berkeley Unified School District is failing to end and prevent harassment.
“It really is attacking teachers and they fabricate this,” said Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, who represents California’s 10th district. “Nobody is for prejudice, racism or attacks on Jewish Americans, but they are using it shamelessly and the real attack is on public education.”
The letter accuses staff of encouraging students to walk out during school hours, including at one event where students were allegedly chanting “Kill Jews.” Other claims involve a teacher allegedly displaying an image of a fist destroying the Star of David.
DeSaulnier, who sits on the Republican-led committee, said any discrimination should be investigated, but he believes politics are driving the investigation.
“It’s evil politics quite frankly,” DeSaulnier said. “It’s political consultants that think this will work in the midterms and presidential election.”
Back in May of this year, Berkeley Unified’s superintendent testified before Congress, disputing claims that antisemitism is pervasive on campuses. The superintendent said since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the district has received nine complaints, which were all immediately investigated.
“When investigations show that an antisemitic event has occurred, we take action to teach, correct, and redirect our students,” Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel said.
The district responded to the new complaint on Tuesday, calling it a rehash of allegations nearly a year and a half old, saying in part “The information sought in the current letter from the committee concerns those old allegations. The district will, of course, respond appropriately to the committee’s letter. Our commitment to the safety and well-being of all students in BUSD is unwavering.”
The committee is requesting documents on complaints, protests, course materials and other items referencing Jews, Israel, antisemitism and Palestine.
Fairfax County in Virginia and Philadelphia public schools are also under federal review.
The district must respond to the committee by Dec. 8.
Source: NBC Bay Area
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