Philadelphia Schools Under Investigation Over Antisemitism Claims

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The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights sent out a letter to 60 colleges and universities stating they were under investigation.

The letter to the colleges and universities stated that the schools were under investigation for alleged violations “relating to antiseptic harassment and discrimination.” The letter warned institutions of possible consequences if they don’t take adequate action to protect Jewish students. The punishment that the institutions would face is the chance of being banned from receiving any federal funds from discriminating based on race, color, and national origin.

Several schools in the Philadelphia area are amongst the schools, including Drexel, Temple, Princeton, Rutgers, and Swarthmore College. Schools in the Leigh Valley also got the letter, including Leigh University, Lafayette, and Muhlenberg College.

President Trump’s administration has made combating with it considers anti-Israel and antisemitic movements on college campuses and priority. This resulted into the announcement to the institutions. These colleges and university had pro-Palestinian demonstrations that erupted periodically on college campuses around the country in the past recent years.

Trump also vowed to cut federal funding to colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism, announcing last week that Columbia University would be the first target. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Columbia set up a weeks long encampment on college grounds back in April and went on to occupy a campus building before riot police cleared the building and arrested dozen of students. Some of those cases were later dismissed in court.

The pro-Palestinian protestors have repeatedly stated that there’s nothing antisemitic about criticizing Israel over it’s actions in Gaza or expressing solidarity with Palestinian and calling for a ceasefire.