Former jewish student at public school system files civl rights complaint, alleges pelted with coins

Complaint against the Montgomery County Public Schools alleges classmates would "throw coins" at the student and "call him a dirty Jew"

Published: October 21, 2026 9:10am

A former student in a Maryland public school system has filed a federal civil rights complaint alleging the school system failed to adequately respond to years of antisemitic harassment that included slurs and an incident in which he received a bomb threat.

The complaint against the Montgomery County Public Schools was filed with the federal Education Department's Office for Civil Rights and alleges the Orthodox Jewish student experienced harassment at two of the system's high schools and that the school district failed to sufficiently protect him.

“Students would throw coins at him and call him a dirty Jew," according to the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, which filed the complaint. The student had to transfer high schools because the harassment was "unbearable," the center also said.

The school system told local news outlet WTOP that it's aware of the complaint but declined to further comment, citing "an ongoing matter."

The complaint asks federal officials to investigate whether the school system violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. 

While the complaint acknowledges the school system took steps to address concerns, including safety measures and administrative intervention, it argues such efforts failed to stop the alleged harassment.

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