Student called a "dirty filthy Jew," told she should be "gassed" and thrown into a cabinet as school officials failed to effectively address ongoing antisemitic harassment
New York, NY, Oct. 29, 2026 ... ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) and Reed Smith LLP have filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, alleging that a Jewish student was subjected to severe, persistent and pervasive antisemitic harassment, culminating in a physical assault, while enrolled at Desert Shadows Middle School in the Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Title VI complaint alleges that “Student A,” a 14-year-old who wore a Star of David necklace, was targeted by at least five students between April 20 and May 21, 2026. She was allegedly called an "ugly Jew," threatened that a classmate would "steal her pennies," told her parents should send her to a concentration camp to be "gassed" and subjected to a Heil Hitler salute accompanied by shouts of "Jew, Jew, Jew." After she reported the harassment, she was threatened for "snitching." On the last day of school, the same student who allegedly referred to her as an “ugly Jew” allegedly shoved her across a desk into a cabinet.
“What happened here was preventable, yet the district failed to effectively remedy the ongoing harassment in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. This harassment then escalated to the point where this student was then physically assaulted,” said James Pasch, ADL Vice President of Litigation. “Rather than focus on addressing the incidents in a systemic manner, the district isolated the victim and attempted to make excuses for the antisemitic harassment. This is unacceptable, and the district must be held accountable.”
The complaint states that the district knew about the harassment the first time it was reported, yet responded with dismissiveness and delay, rather than promptly and effectively addressing the incidents. Student A's teacher allegedly told her the slurs were not his problem, and administrators allegedly refused to call her parents because staff were "too busy." An assistant principal allegedly suggested that the student who gave a Heil Hitler salute "probably had a crush on" Student A, and the school's principal allegedly excused one of the perpetrators because he was "very religious." Student A was moved into a class with one of her harassers and ultimately confined to the principal's office, accumulating more than 45 missing assignments. Student A now attends school in a different school district.
“No child should be told she belongs in a gas chamber, and no family should have to plead with their school to take pervasive antisemitic harassment seriously,” said Sarah Kader, Deputy Director of the ADL Desert Region. “Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Other Jewish students at Desert Shadows have also faced harassment because they are Jewish. When a district minimizes these incidents and fails to effectively respond, antisemitism spreads. Schools should be places where all students are protected and their heritage is respected, not where they face assault and harassment because of who they are.”
“This family did everything they were supposed to do. They reported what was happening, asked for help and trusted the school to act,” said Gregory Speier, Partner at Reed Smith, who is leading the firm’s representation of the family. “Together with ADL, we are asking the Office for Civil Rights to help ensure that the district creates meaningful policies, implements training and ensure consistent accountability so that no Jewish student has to go through this again.”
ADL and Reed Smith are asking the Department of Education to investigate and pursue mediation, and to require the district to take steps to comply with Title VI, enforce a zero-tolerance policy for antisemitic conduct, implement mandatory antisemitism training for staff and students, adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism, appoint a Title VI Coordinator and independent monitor, and strengthen anti-retaliation and reporting policies.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin, including discrimination against Jewish students on the basis of their actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, in educational institutions that receive federal funding.
The complaint was filed in partnership with Reed Smith LLP through ADL Legal Action Network, a nationwide network of 55+ law firms launched in October 2025 that provides free legal support to victims of antisemitism. Individuals who have experienced antisemitic harassment, discrimination or violence can report incidents at https://www.adl.org/adl-legal-action.
ADL has filed civil rights and legal complaints against public school districts to address antisemitic environments for Jewish students, including a successfully resolved matter against the Santa Ana Unified School District. ADL has brought Title VI complaints against the Bay County, Florida Public School District, Baltimore City Public Schools, Berkeley Unified School District, and Etiwanda School District. Several filed complaints have resulted in successful resolution agreements, including one with the Boulder Valley School District in September of this year.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913 to protect the Jewish people, ADL works to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment to all. In the face of rising antisemitism and extremism, we protect, advocate, and educate, through a mix of programs and services using the latest innovations and technology, and seek to create a world without hate. More at www.adl.org.
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships, and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters. For more information, please visit reedsmith.com.
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