House antisemitism hearing: NYC schools leader reveals case that has 'troubled' him the most

The chancellor of New York City Public Schools connected Wednesday told lawmakers connected Capitol Hill that determination person been 281 antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents wrong his schoolhouse strategy since Hamas launched its onslaught connected Israel connected Oct. 7, but 1 lawsuit troubles him the most. 

David Banks made the admittance to the Subcommittee connected Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education during a proceeding titled "Confronting pervasive antisemitism successful K-12 schools." 

"We've had 281 incidents since October 7th — astir 42% were antisemitic and 30% were Islamophobic," Banks said. "We instrumentality each azygous 1 of those very, precise seriously. We analyse and past we initiate the due level of conduct." 

But during an speech with Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Banks admitted that allegations surrounding behaviour astatine Origins High School successful Brooklyn person "troubled" him the most. 

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New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks speaks during a proceeding astir antisemitism successful American schools connected Capitol Hill successful Washington, D.C., connected Wednesday. (Fox News)

Stefanik said, "In October, 40 to 50 students marched done Origins High School chanting ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Kill the Jews.’"

"In addition, an autarkic probe recovered that a teacher who teaches planetary past was told by a student, quote, ‘I wish you were killed.’ Another pupil called her, quote, ‘a soiled Jew.’ And the pupil said helium wished Hitler could person deed much Jews, including her," she continued. "What disciplinary actions person been taken against those students who chanted ‘Death to Israel’ astatine Origins High School and against the pupil who harassed with antisemitic slurs?" 

Banks responded by saying that "when we person done our investigation, we person recovered nary grounds that determination was immoderate question done the hallway saying, ‘Death to the Jews.'"

"We looked at, and I dainty that very, precise seriously. That was reported successful the papers. We person recovered nary grounds that that really happened," helium added. "What we person recovered a wide scope of profoundly troubling antisemitic things that person happened astatine Origins High School. This is the 1 lawsuit that has troubled maine the most, Congresswoman, I volition archer you that." 

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Fox News Digital obtained a photograph of the pro-Hamas slogan, "Free Palestine. From the River to the Sea," scrawled connected a teacher's blackboard astatine Susan E. Wagner High School successful New York City's Staten Island borough. (Fox News Digital)

"We have, successful fact, suspended a fig of students astatine that school. But currently this lawsuit present is nether litigation," helium besides said. "And I'm being advised not to talk to the circumstantial things that person happened there." 

The proceeding opened with Rep. Aaron Bean, R-Fla., calling the precise request for it a "travesty." 

"The aftermath of Oct. 7 has revealed immoderate of the ugliest, astir deprived ideas erstwhile marginalized from polite society. And our acquisition strategy has failed to halt it. It's not conscionable anti-Israel, it's anti-American. It's anti-democracy," Bean said. "Our witnesses contiguous correspond immoderate of the largest schoolhouse districts successful the federation wherever there's been immoderate vile antisemitism successful their districts." 

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., talks astatine the House Committee connected Education and the Workforce proceeding connected "Columbia successful Crisis: Columbia University's Response to Antisemitism" connected Capitol Hill successful Washington, D.C., connected April 17. (AP/Mariam Zuhaib)

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Banks besides said during the hearing, "Whenever an contented is brought to our attention, I can't authorities that I tin forestall each incidental from ever happening. But our relation arsenic leaders is to marque definite that erstwhile it is brought to our attention, that we respond successful an due fashion. And that is what we person been doing."