The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating K-12 schools and universities for violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to a Thursday press release.
The release notes that the administration intends to take “aggressive action” against the rise in “antisemitism, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab” discrimination on campuses across the country since the Israel-Hamas conflict began Oct. 7. (RELATED: BLM Chicago Deletes Paraglider Tweet, But Doubles Down On Support Of Hamas, Palestine)
“Hate has no place in our schools, period. When students are targeted because they are—or are perceived to be—Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, or any other ethnicity or shared ancestry, schools must act to ensure safe and inclusive educational environments where everyone is free to learn,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in the release. “These investigations underscore how seriously the Biden-Harris Administration, including the U.S. Department of Education, takes our responsibility to protect students from hatred and discrimination.”
Schools being investigated for alleged acts of discrimination include Columbia University, Cornell University, Oberlin College, as well as several K-12 school districts.
NEWS: The U.S. Department of Education has announced it is investigating complaints of antisemitism and/or Islamophobia at seven schools, including @Columbia, @Cornell, @Penn, and @cooperunion. pic.twitter.com/Lbk8HbRmLI
— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) November 17, 2023
“We at the Department of Education, like the nation, see the fear students and school communities experience as hate proliferates in schools,” Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon said. “As we continue our active enforcement, the Office for Civil Rights is increasing transparency into our investigations for public awareness. As always, I emphasize that the Office for Civil Rights reaches conclusions at the end of investigations and that a school’s appearance on this list does not reflect a conclusion that the law has been violated.”
The Columbia University student group, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), released a letter Oct. 9 expressing “full solidarity” with Palestine, describing Israel and its alleged actions as “settler-colonialism and apartheid.” Students at the University of South Florida shouted, “resistance is justified” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” in reference to the attacks. Some students at Harvard University issued a joint letter in support of Palestine three days after Hamas killed and raped people in Israel.