U.S. Education Department Launches Investigation into NYC Public Schools Over Pro-Palestinian Seminars

U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights announced an investigation into New York City Public Schools nearly two weeks ago, probing allegations that a group of pro-Palestinian teachers organized seminars on Palestinian resistance that labeled Zionists as genocidal white supremacists.

Fox News reported these seminars were taught to children as young as 5 and focused on contemporary and historical Palestinian resistance.

Complaints further alleged the seminars gave credence to support for Hamas and its martyrs. NYC Educators for Palestine organized a Teach-In for Palestine set for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, advertised for students as young as 6.

A spokesperson for New York City Public Schools stated that NYC Educators for Palestine is not connected to New York City Public Schools. Fox News reported that New York City Public Schools students participated in a walkout on May 31, 2024. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey stated: 'No child should be taught by his or her teachers to hate their peers.

The investigation comes as the Trump administration has notified more than 60 colleges and higher education institutions of pending investigations into failures to address antisemitism on campus. The Trump administration launched an investigation into Baltimore City Public Schools for alleged antisemitic harassment last August, and that probe is still ongoing.

Fox News reported the New York City inquiry unfolds as Mayor Zohran Mamdani enters his fifth month in office.