Gary Fitleberg, September 29, 2004

The U.S. Department of Education says it will now prosecute cases of anti-Semitism on college campuses and in public schools.

In a letter to schools received this week, the department's Office of Civil Rights said it had jurisdiction over matters of racial and national-origin discrimination, and therefore could investigate cases of harassment of Arab Muslims, Sikhs and Jewish students. Previously, anti-Semitism cases were deemed discrimination based on religion, and forwarded to the Justice Department. Now, the Education Department can take cases to an administrative law judge. "I have heard anecdotally that they think it is happening and people don't know where to turn," said Kenneth Marcus, who oversees the department's Office of Civil Rights. "People don't know they have an opportunity to get protection from the federal government."

Marcus said harassment of Jews or other religious minorities may have ethnic or cultural components, which would put it under his purview.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg