Jewish Student Suffers Two Years of Antisemitic Abuse Including Choking Incident in Colorado School
A Jewish eighth-grade student at Southern Hills Middle School in Boulder Valley School District, Colorado, endured severe and ongoing antisemitic abuse for nearly two years. The harassment culminated in a December incident where another student wrapped a laptop charger cable tightly around the Jewish student's neck, choking him and dragging him across the classroom floor while shouting the antisemitic slur "kike." This attack occurred openly during class, witnessed by others, with school staff failing to intervene effectively.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) filed an urgent formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, accusing the school district of willfully neglecting the student's safety despite internal investigations confirming the hostile environment. The complaint reveals that the choking episode was not isolated; students had previously engaged in a game called "tag the Jew," spread harmful rumors about Jews being "contaminated," and made hateful remarks such as wishing Hitler had killed all Jews. The relentless bullying forced the student to remove his Star of David necklace out of fear.
Following the choking incident, a protective order and safety plan were issued for the student, but the ADL reports the school violated the order immediately without taking corrective action. The ADL’s legal vice president, James Pasch, condemned the district for violating federal law and emphasized the education system’s duty to protect children. The ADL demands a comprehensive federal investigation, mandatory antisemitism prevention programs, and a public apology from the district to the student’s family.
Colorado recorded 167 antisemitic incidents in the past year alone, highlighting a growing threat to Jewish students in U.S. schools. The ADL’s complaint underscores systemic failures and calls for urgent reforms to ensure Jewish students’ safety and dignity in educational settings.
