# Federal complaint alleges MCPS students faced years of antisemitic harassment > A recent Montgomery County Public Schools graduate faced years of antisemitic harassment, including a bomb threat followed by fireworks. - Title: Federal complaint alleges MCPS students faced years of… - Summary: A recent Montgomery County Public Schools graduate faced years of antisemitic harassment, including a bomb threat followed by fireworks. A federal complaint… - Keywords: mcps, antisemitism, montgomery county public schools, jewish students, bomb threat, fireworks, title vi complaint, federal investigation, school harassment, news, local, Federal - Source: The Banner — https://thebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/mcps-antisemitism-complaint-FEWCNIPE4NDDBAK6DA6XED3HDQ - Author: Talia Richman - Published: 2026-10-20T21:25:41.311+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: mcps, antisemitism, montgomery county public schools, jewish students, bomb threat, fireworks, title vi complaint, federal investigation, school harassment, news, local ## Federal complaint filed A recent Montgomery County Public Schools graduate faced years of antisemitic harassment, including a telephoned bomb threat immediately followed by fireworks outside his home. > Despite repeated notice of anti-Semitic threats, harassment, and ostracization directed at a visibly Jewish student at Montgomery Blair High School ## Complaint demands federal action The Title VI complaint filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law seeks federal investigation and safety measures for Jewish students. > the District failed to take prompt and effective steps reasonably calculated to eliminate the hostile environment, remedy its effects, and prevent its recurrence ## Jewish leaders call for action Dozens of local rabbis and cantors sent a letter to Superintendent Thomas Taylor demanding MCPS address skyrocketing school-based antisemitism. > We are alarmed that the lack of a meaningful response by MCPS has led to an increase in the normalization of antisemitic attitudes, language and behaviors in our schools ## Student's harassment timeline The student faced accusations of supporting genocide, rumors about joining Israel Defense Forces, and classmates urging shunning him for being a Zionist. > Fear of confrontation or physical harm caused him to reduce his attendance and leave school early during the final weeks of his senior year ## Senior Assassin incident During a water gun game, students shared locations to participate in a 'Senior Assassin' game, which the school later said was not sanctioned. > The school expressed concern, checked on [the student], and said it would look into the incident, but emphasized that Senior Assassin was not school sanctioned ## Bomb threat and fireworks The student received a call saying, 'You F, -g Zionist, you F, -g Jew. I am going to bomb you,' followed by fireworks outside his home. > You F, -g Zionist, you F, -g Jew. I am going to bomb you ## School's response The school checked on the student, initiated safety plans, and conducted check-ins but failed to restore his sense of safety or ability to participate fully in school. > these measures did not restore [the student’s] sense of safety or ability to participate fully in school ## Ongoing harassment The student continued to fear confrontation, left school early, and attended as little as possible despite school efforts to protect him. > He continued to fear confrontation or physical harm, left school early when overwhelmed, and attended as little as possible ## District data on hate incidents MCPS reported 250 hate bias incidents in 2024-25 and 600 in 2025-2026, with over half targeting Black students and 140 involving antisemitism. > More than half of the incidents targeted Black students, and roughly 140 involved antisemitism ## Key takeaway A federal complaint claims MCPS students endured antisemitic harassment for years, demanding federal investigation and safety measures.