Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today directed the State Police and the Division of Human Rights to investigate the serious allegations of anti-Semitic harassment, physical attacks, and intimidation at the Pine Bush Central School District.
“The reports of rampant anti-Semitic harassment and physical assaults at Pine Bush schools, if true, are deeply disturbing,” Governor Cuomo said. “Here in New York State, we have zero tolerance for bigotry or hate based on anyone’s religious or ethnic origin, and to that end, I have directed the State Police and the Division of Human Rights, to undergo a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding these acts. The public has a right to know the truth, and parents across the state have the right to know that their children can attend our schools without fear of this reprehensible behavior.”
Furthermore, Governor Cuomo today sent the following letter to State Education Commissioner John King regarding the allegations of anti-Semitic harassment in Pine Bush Central School District:
Dr. John B. King, Jr.
Commissioner of Education and
President of the University of the State of New York
New York State Education Department
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234Dear Commissioner King,
I write to express my serious concern with reports of anti-Semitic harassment including physical attacks at Pine Bush Central School District.
The alleged behavior is nothing that should ever be tolerated in our schools: swastikas drawn on school property remaining for “weeks or months,” anti-Semitic slurs and caustic Holocaust jokes directed at Jewish students – at times with school faculty present – and physical attacks including a Jewish student being beaten with a hockey stick and another having a swastika forcibly drawn on her face. As recently as last year, three of the students’ families filed suit in court.
Today I directed the State Police and the Division of Human Rights to investigate the alleged acts of anti-Semitism. I fully expect the State Department of Education (SED) to be forthcoming to parents across New York State regarding the Department’s knowledge of these reprehensible acts and what, if any, steps have been taken to ensure Pine Bush students of Jewish origin can attend their school without being subject to anti-Semitic attacks.
If these reports are true, I would like to know what, if anything, SED knew about this situation and if you or your department was aware, when you became aware, and what SED has done to investigate and/or address the situation.
Sincerely,
GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO
(YWN Newsdesk)
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2 Responses
were is the JDL
To the best of my knowledge, there is no JDL anymore.
If they exist at all, they are just a few guys who hang out and talk about the
good old days when they were a strong organization with members all accross the country.
Same for the JDO.