Latest news with #JewishStudentUnion
Fox News
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
From homeroom to hate: How Jewish students are facing a new kind of pressure in public schools
For most teenagers, the first day of school is filled with a familiar cocktail of nerves and excitement. Who's in your classes? Will you like your teachers and the subjects? Is your locker anywhere near your best friend's? It's the stuff of adolescence—the drama of group chats, homecoming, AP exams and figuring out where you belong. But for Jewish students in public schools across America, a different question now looms: Is it safe to be visibly Jewish here? Since Oct. 7 2023, and in truth long before, a slow-creeping shadow has been cast over what should be ordinary, even joyful, school experiences. The rise in antisemitism across the country hasn't spared hallways, classrooms or cafeterias. What once might've been a passive comment about someone "looking Jewish" has escalated to swastikas scrawled on desks, Holocaust jokes traded on social media and Jewish students being told to "go back to Israel" — even if they've never been there — or that they are "genocide supporters." The pressure is relentless. Imagine studying for a math test while overhearing someone at the next table claiming the Holocaust was exaggerated. Picture walking into school wearing a Star of David necklace and feeling eyes on you — not with admiration, but with suspicion, judgment or open hostility. These aren't abstract fears. They are lived realities reported in schools from New York to California, from Florida to Illinois. In a world where students are already carrying the invisible weight of anxiety, academic stress and social pressure, Jewish teens are carrying one more burden: fear. And it's not just physical safety — it's also emotional and identity-based. Students who once proudly wore their Judaica or talked about their summer at Jewish camp now wonder if it's safer to be silent. They wrestle with whether to speak up when Israel comes up in class discussions, knowing they might be met with ignorance at best and outright venom at worst. Some are even advised by well-meaning adults to "just keep a low profile." But silence has never been the Jewish response to injustice. And thankfully, many students are refusing to shrink themselves. Extracurricular clubs like the Jewish Student Union, a program of NCSY, are taking root in public middle and high schools across the country, creating spaces where Jewish teens can gather, support one another and learn how to respond with dignity and courage. Organizations like the ADL are providing schools with training and resources to recognize and combat antisemitism. And parents, educators and allies are beginning to realize that this isn't just a "Jewish problem." It's a societal one. What's at stake isn't just Jewish student safety. It's the soul of the American public school system — one that is supposed to serve as a beacon of pluralism, inclusion and equal opportunity. A place where students of all backgrounds can thrive not despite who they are, but because of it. For Jewish students, the goal isn't to be seen as political actors or lightning rods for controversy. It's to be kids. To worry about SATs and science fairs. To laugh with friends during lunch. To wonder if their crush is going to the same party. And yes, to wear their Star of David without fear. Schools must rise to this moment. Administrators need to treat antisemitism with the same urgency as any other form of hate. Teachers must be trained. Offhand comments must be challenged. And Jewish students must be reminded, over and over, that they are not alone. Because when a 14-year-old walks into homeroom, the only thing they should worry about is whether they remembered their homework — not whether they'll be targeted for their heritage. We owe them that much.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former UB student gets conditional discharge for inciting to riot at Jewish Student Union demonstration
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A former University at Buffalo student was given one year of conditional discharge for inciting a riot following a Jewish Student Union demonstration last year, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said Monday. The demonstration came after multiple days of pro-Palestine protests on UB's North Campus for several days in early May. The 19-year-old student, from Newburgh, N.Y., made a social media post on May 6, 2024, 'directing people to engage in tumultuous and violent conduct' towards the demonstrators. The student was 18 years old at the time. He pleaded guilty in February to one count of inciting to riot. Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Antisemitism on Campus: The high school front line since October 7
Since the horrors of Oct. 7, 2023, Jewish high schoolers across North America have faced a drastically altered reality, marked by fear, hostility and a surge in antisemitism. At NCSY, we work with tens of thousands of Jewish teens nationwide, and what we're seeing today is not just troubling, it's unprecedented in this country. What once might have been subtle slights or awkward silences from peers has, for many students, turned into open hostility. Students are being isolated, intimidated, and even harassed and threatened simply for being Jewish or expressing support for Israel, which was viciously attacked on Oct. 7 and has subsequently been fighting to release hostages and prevent future attacks. One student was asked whether she "supports genocide" after posting an Israeli flag on social media. Another was told to remove her Star of David necklace to avoid "provoking" others. These stories reflect a breakdown in the values our schools are meant to uphold. The Anti-Defamation League's 2024 audit underscores this surge, reporting 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the U.S., a 140% increase over 2023 and the highest since tracking began in 1979. This includes harassment, vandalism and assaults, mostly in schools and colleges. Hate speech and intimidation have become disturbingly normalized. High school is a time for growth and personal development, which schools have a responsibility to help foster. Yet since Oct. 7, many Jewish students have instead been put in the position of defending their identity, often without guidance or institutional support. When schools fail to act, they signal that this hate is somehow less urgent. Time and time again, we've seen the complacency of school leadership in these cases. In one troubling situation in New Jersey, a yearbook photo of Jewish students was replaced with that of Muslim students, and the Jewish students' names were omitted entirely. Acts like this aren't oversights, they're erasure. At NCSY, we are committed to ensuring that no student feels alone. Through our Jewish Student Union (JSU) clubs in over 400 public schools across North America, we give students a space to process what they're experiencing, connect with others who understand, and develop the strength to stand tall in their Jewish identity. We also provide leadership training, Israel education, and guidance on how to address antisemitism with confidence and dignity. These students aren't just victims of hate, they are American Jewish leaders in the making and powerful voices of moral clarity and courage. It is unacceptable for schools to be silent or neutral in the face of antisemitism. Schools have a responsibility to act with clarity and consistency when addressing antisemitism. That means updating anti-harassment policies to reflect today's realities, training staff to identify modern forms of antisemitism, including anti-Zionist rhetoric, and fostering an environment where Jewish identity is respected. Parents, educators and community leaders must also stay engaged. Listening to students and taking their concerns seriously is critical. Their stories are not exaggerations; they are early warnings that deserve thoughtful, compassionate responses. Oct. 7 didn't just shake Israel, it shook Jewish identity around the world when Jews saw pro-Hamas rallies conducted across the country before Israel had even responded to the attacks against it. For Jewish high schoolers in the U.S., the aftershocks are still being felt daily. But rather than shrink in the face of this pressure, students have shown something remarkable: resilience, pride, and an unshakable connection to Jewish values and peoplehood. Now is the time for all of us to rise to the occasion. Support Jewish students in your community. Challenge school boards and administrators to do better. Speak out clearly and consistently against antisemitism in all its forms. With the right tools, partnerships and commitment, we can ensure our schools are places where every Jewish student feels safe, seen and valued. With the right support, they won't just survive this moment, they will lead us into a stronger and more just future.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Yahoo
Former UB student admits to inciting to riot in connection with Jewish Student Union demonstration
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A former University at Buffalo student pleaded guilty to inciting to riot following a Jewish Student Union demonstration that took place last year, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office. The demonstration followed pro-Palestine protests that took place on campus, and around the country, for multiple days in early May. On May 6, 2024, the Jewish Student Union held a demonstration on UB's North Campus in Amherst. Just after 12:45 p.m., a 19-year-old man from Newburgh, N.Y., who was a student at UB at the time, allegedly made a post on social media telling people to participate in violent conduct toward demonstrators. The former student pleaded guilty to inciting to riot, the highest sustainable charge, Thursday morning. He was 18 at the time of the crime and will be adjudicated as a youthful offender. He remains released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to be sentenced June 2. Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
