EdNews Virginia | December 20, 2023
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares is reminding the commonwealth’s school division leaders of their legal and moral obligations to combat all forms of discrimination, harassment and intimidation. In a letter to superintendents on Thursday, Miyares decried the rising “scourge of antisemitism” following the “barbaric” October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
“There are Jewish families and students in our Commonwealth who feel threatened and unsupported. Some schools and divisions have even promoted biased materials and stood by as staff and students spread false narratives and shouted violent anti-Jewish slogans,” Miyares noted.
“As public servants, you must foster an environment that is free of all forms of discrimination, harassment, and intimidation on the basis of religion not only because the law commands it, but because our plural society requires it,” the attorney general wrote.
Outlining a series of legal guidelines and offering the resources of his office, the attorney general’s letter called on school leaders to confront antisemitism with decisiveness and moral clarity: “Now is not the time for moral equivalency or half measures. Now is the time for moral courage and leadership.”
READ THE FULL LETTER TO SCHOOL DIVISION LEADERS: