Feds investigating antisemitism allegations in Baltimore public schools
A federal investigation is underway in Baltimore City Public Schools following a complaint from the Anti-Defamation League. The organization said Jewish parents reported that their children have faced ongoing discrimination and harassment, allegedly from both students and teachers.
The ADL described the incidents as serious and repeated, prompting federal authorities to review the district’s handling of the claims. Baltimore City Public Schools is one of Maryland’s largest school systems, serving more than 70,000 students.
Federal investigation follows ADL complaint
The complaint, filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, alleges that BCPSS allowed a hostile environment for Jewish students after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack in Israel. The investigation centers on potential violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin. Under the law, schools that receive federal funding must take steps to prevent and address such conduct.
“The allegations that Baltimore City Public Schools tolerate virulent Nazi-inspired anti-Semitic harassment of its Jewish students is at once appalling and infuriating,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights at the Education Department.
In announcing the investigation Thursday, Trainor said the allegations include a report of a teacher making a Nazi salute toward a Jewish student and claims that some students said, “All Jews should die.”
“If true, these allegations confirm a disturbing trend: too many of our nation’s educational institutions are failing American students by inculcating in them a loathing for their own country and fellow citizens and a tolerance and acceptance for a deeply destructive ancient hatred,” he said.
Baltimore schools respond to concerns
In response to recent concerns raised by the ADL, the district said it has addressed past incidents of antisemitic behavior and taken action when policies were violated.
Officials said they have communicated with affected school communities while respecting privacy laws and, in some cases, held restorative circles or engagement events.
“City schools stands in solidarity with our Jewish community and with all who seek to create safe, inclusive and respectful learning environments. We have condemned hateful behavior and taken action to hold students and staff accountable when our values and policies are violated,” the district said in a statement.
The ADL says reported incidents include Nazi salutes on the playground, antisemitic graffiti in classrooms and hostile remarks referencing the Holocaust and Hamas. According to the complaint, the lack of a meaningful response from school officials has left some students feeling unsafe at school and struggling to concentrate on their education.
Teacher at center of investigation speaks out
Patrick Oray, a teacher at Bard High School Early College, acknowledged making what he called a “Roman salute” during a lesson on Julius Caesar, according to the Baltimore Sun. He said the gesture was part of a discussion on authoritarianism, not antisemitism, and followed student questions about the Holocaust’s relevance today.
The district has not confirmed whether Oray is the teacher named in the federal complaint, but he shared letters with The Sun that he said came from the district. One stated that a student’s allegation that he used Nazi-associated gestures and singled out a Jewish student was substantiated.
Oray denied making a separate alleged remark about “going all Nazi,” though he did confirm a prior meeting with a parent and rabbi regarding his use of the term “Grammar Nazi” in class. He defended the reference as a cultural expression, not hate speech.
In a recent statement, Oray said his lessons aim to challenge hate and criticized the ADL for what he called sensational claims that could discourage teachers from addressing difficult topics. He remains employed by the district.
ADL calls for stronger measures
Along with a federal investigation, the ADL is also calling on the district to take several corrective steps. These include adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, requiring staff-wide training on the issue, adding lessons on the Holocaust and antisemitism to the curriculum and enforcing strict policies against antisemitic behavior.
Statistics of rising antisemitism
The ADL recorded 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the U.S. in 2024 – the highest total since it began tracking cases in 1979. That figure marks a 5% rise from 2023 and represents a 344% increase over the past five years.
Assaults rose by 21%, affecting 250 victims in 196 separate incidents. Acts of vandalism increased by 20%, with more than 2,600 cases reported. Harassment remained the most common type of incident, holding steady at more than 6,500 reports.
For the first time, the majority of incidents, 58%, included references to Israel or Zionism. Many occurred in connection with anti-Israel demonstrations, where the ADL found antisemitic chants, signs or speeches at 2,596 of the 5,000-plus protests it tracked in 2024.
College campuses experienced the sharpest rise, with 1,694 incidents, representing an 84% increase from the previous year.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
