The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, the Anti-Defamation League and StandWithUs announced a helpline to provide free legal guidance for families of Jewish students experiencing hatred at K-12 schools in Massachusetts and New York.
“The barrage of antisemitic harassment, intimidation and attacks against Jewish students is unfortunately not contained within the campus gates,” said Rachel Lerman, Brandeis Center vice chair and general counsel, on Monday. “Administrations cannot be allowed to turn a blind eye to the intimidation, bullying and antisemitic rhetoric their students endure within their schools.”
Lerman said that the group’s lawyers “stand ready to use the law to hold schools accountable to enforce their own rules as Jewish students are subjected to a virulently hostile environment. This must stop.”
Peggy Shukur, ADL vice president for the East Division, said: “Particularly in situations where responses to antisemitism are inadequate or worse, access to high-quality legal assistance is a crucial tool to ensure a safe learning environment. By providing these legal efforts, this helpline will empower Jewish students, teachers and parents to take action to fight against antisemitic harassment and bigotry.”
Carly Gammill, director of legal policy at the StandWithUs Saidoff Legal Department, said that the helpline “comes at a time when antisemitism continues to plague students in our nation’s schools and will help ensure broader access to legal resources for students seeking to address attacks against their Jewish identity.”
