Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, has launched an investigation into allegations of antisemitism in the Fairfax County Public Schools.
On Nov. 24, Walberg sent letters to FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid, as well as to the superintendents of the School District of Philadelphia and the Berkeley Unified School District, informing them that their school districts are under investigation.
In the letter to FCPS, Walberg said his committee will investigate “whether there was or is a hostile environment against Jewish K-12 students and whether FCPS is fulfilling its obligation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) to end any harassment, eliminate any hostile environment and its effects, and prevent any harassment from recurring.”
The letter cites examples of alleged antisemitic incidents reported by Washington Jewish Week, as well as by organizations such as the Zionist Organization of America and the Combating Antisemitism Movement.
In late October, chapters of the Muslim Student Association at Langley High School and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County were criticized for posting recruitment videos on social media that depicted hostage-taking and violence, and showed one student wearing a sweatshirt that bore a map of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza filled in with the Palestinian flag. The Council on American Islamic Relations defended the Thomas Jefferson student video as “playful.”
Walberg’s letter said that FCPS saw significant antisemitic acts even prior to the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks against Israel. “Jewish students allegedly faced repeated antisemitic bullying, including other students making the ‘Heil Hitler’ salute and throwing coins at them. Another school for years allegedly refused to remove a hallway display that included painted tiles, 40 percent of which featured swastikas and Nazi flags,” the letter said.
The letter gave other examples: “Just prior to the October 7th attacks, one high school’s Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) hosted a speaker who had made grotesque antisemitic statements. For example, he had tweeted, ‘I’m not racist I love everyone. Except the yahood [Jews],’ and ‘Never met a Jew who didn’t have a huge nose.’”
In addition, according to Walberg’s letter, “one of FCPS’ own school board members repeatedly posted antisemitic messages online — using accounts that identified her as a member of the school board — including statements such as ‘Israel doesn’t exist.’”
The letter to FCPS asked Superintendent Reid to provide specific documents relating to the House committee’s investigation no later than Dec. 8.
An FCPS spokesperson told Washington Jewish Week that the county will cooperate with the investigation.
“Fairfax County Public Schools has received a letter from Congressman Walberg, Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, requesting information about potential antisemitic incidents occurring within FCPS schools since 2022. FCPS intends to fully cooperate with Congressman Walberg’s inquiry. FCPS continues to partner with all families to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive school environment for all students and staff members,” the spokesperson wrote.
The documents requested include an organized list of all complaints received by the FCPS made against any students, staff, or faculty in relation to possible antisemitic incidents since Oct. 7, 2023. In addition, the letter also requested documents since Oct. 7, 2023, “referring or relating to Jews, Judaism, Israel, Palestine, or Zionism, in the possession of FCPS schools or offices.” The committee also asked for “all documents and communications referring or relating to contracts or agreements involving FCPS since January 1, 2022, that refer to Jews, Judaism, Israel, Palestine, Zionism, or antisemitism.”
“To the extent that the investigation raises the profile of the issue, that’s always a positive thing,” said Guila Franklin Siegel, chief operating officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, in an interview with Washington Jewish Week.
The JCRC has been working with schools in the greater Washington area for several years, including FCPS. Franklin Siegel said more resources need to be allocated to federal and state investigations and teacher trainings — “more resources to bring culturally sensitive curricula into the schools and more opportunities for students to really understand one another.”
“I think the proof is always in the pudding,” Franklin Siegel added. “We need our elected officials to not only amplify the issue, but to take concrete steps to help to put a dent in the prolific hatred that we’re seeing, not only with respect to Jews, but with respect to many other minorities in our school systems.”
