Jewish Families File Lawsuit Against California School District for Failing to Address Antisemitism

Lawsuit Alleges District Officials Dismissed Swastika Graffiti as Buddhist Symbols and Permitted Antisemitic Instruction Depicting Jews as Puppeteers

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of families has filed a lawsuit against Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) in California, alleging the District's systematic failure to protect Jewish students from rampant antisemitism and illegal discrimination. The lawsuit names SUHSD's Board of Trustees, certain school administrators, and a Woodside High School teacher as defendants. The families are receiving pro bono representation by Ropes & Gray LLP in partnership with The Deborah Project.

"We send our children to school to learn and grow, not to be targeted and harassed based on their religion," said Sam Kasle, one of the plaintiff parents. "The District's indifference to the rise in antisemitic incidents at their schools is both shameful and dangerous."

The complaint details a significant increase in antisemitic behavior at SUHSD schools following Hamas's October 2023 attacks. A particularly egregious instance involved the discovery of swastikas etched on Woodside High School's campus. Rather than condemning the act and punishing the perpetrator, Woodside administrators, including Principal Karen Van Putten, dismissed the hateful graffiti as "spiritual symbols from Japanese Buddhism."

In another example, a former Menlo-Atherton High School teacher delivered an ethnic studies presentation rife with antisemitic tropes, including the portrayal of Jews as puppet masters who secretly control society's "dominant narratives":

The lawsuit further alleges that SUHSD officials and teachers:

• Distributed antisemitic instructional materials that echoed Nazi propaganda;
• Made or tolerated anti-Jewish jokes, slurs, and epithets;
• Coerced Jewish students to endorse false and ahistorical beliefs to pass exams; and
• Advised Jewish students to hide their religious identities to avoid harassment.

The plaintiff families seek injunctive and declaratory relief to prevent further harm and ensure equal educational opportunities for Jewish students at SUHSD schools.

"The District's persistent failure to address virulent antisemitism within its schools is a grave violation of students' civil rights," said Ryan Weinstein, a Ropes & Gray attorney representing the families. "It is our profound privilege to stand with these families and defend the rights of Jewish students to learn in environments free from antisemitic discrimination and harassment."

About Ropes & Gray LLP 

Ropes & Gray LLP is a leading global law firm known for its expertise in complex litigation, corporate law, intellectual property, and regulatory matters. Ropes & Gray's public service commitment is a hallmark of the firm, rooted in the example set by the firm's founders more than a century and a half ago. From securing asylum for endangered immigrants, to combatting civil rights violations and discrimination, Ropes & Gray strives to provide the highest level of pro bono legal advice and support to those who need it most. 

About The Deborah Project

The Deborah Project is a public interest organization dedicated to defending the civil rights of Jews facing discrimination in educational settings. The project uses legal tools to uncover and address antisemitic abuses in educational systems.

Media Contact:
Allison M. Joyce 
Director of Communications and Public Relations 
[email protected]
+1 617 235 4726

SOURCE Ropes & Gray