Danielle Kaminsky: Internet outraged as Brooklyn teacher sues school for ignoring antisemitic email

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: Social media was buzzing with discussions when a Jewish history teacher from a Brooklyn high school took legal action against school officials. She claimed they had brushed aside death threats and antisemitic emails she'd received from students.

This alarming incident comes amidst a wave of anti-Israel protests sweeping through prestigious American institutions.

The tension escalated further when Columbia University, a focal point of these protests, shut down its campus indefinitely. This decision came after protesting students stormed into an academic building in the early hours of Tuesday, April 30.

Brooklyn teacher sues school for ignoring anti-Semitic violence against Jewish teachers 

According to a report by the New York Post, a Jewish history teacher named Danielle Kaminsky experienced a troubling situation at Origins High School in Sheepshead Bay.

Kaminsky stated that she endured numerous antisemitic incidents from students, including the drawing of swastikas, receiving death threats, witnessing Nazi salutes, and hearing disturbing comments that praised Hitler. Despite her efforts to seek assistance, she alleges that school officials ignored the antisemitism within the school.

According to Kaminsky's lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court, bigotry seemed to thrive unchecked at Origins High. From the aftermath of the October 7 tragedy until her eventual transfer in March, she endured what she describes as an onslaught of aggressive antisemitism.

Students reportedly marched through the campus chanting hateful slogans like "f**k the Jews" and "Death to Israel!", brandishing Palestinian flags, defacing school property with swastikas, and openly glorifying Hitler.

Even more distressing is Kaminsky's allegation that when she dared to speak out against these atrocities, the school retaliated against her. Michael Beaudry, a campus manager and another plaintiff in the lawsuit, also claims to have faced repercussions for supporting Kaminsky and urging the administration to intervene.

The lawsuit states, “The students conducted their campaign of hate within a New York City public school, emblazoned it in graffiti on its furniture, scribbled it on blackboards, circulated it in emails and text messages, and repeated it on papers and notes foisted on, and taunts directed at, Jewish teachers and students."

The New York Post reported that Chancellor David Banks of Origins is expected to testify before the US House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, shedding light on this disturbing issue.

Nathaniel Styer, a spokesperson for the Department of Education, emphasized, "Students and staff deserve to be safe and respected in their school, and Origins High School is no different. We will review this lawsuit."

The lawsuit details numerous instances of antisemitic harassment endured by Kaminsky, including finding swastikas drawn on her blackboard and receiving threatening post-it notes.

Even more chilling was an email she received on March 5, titled "filthy Jew Kaminsky," which read, “All Jews need to be exterminated. Their doors kicked in in the middle of the night. A bullet put in each of their heads. Through all history, the k–es are purveyors of mass death and suffering. They will never stop until they are stopped. Kaminsky the foul whiny Jew has no place in America let alone a school system. Here’s hoping the Muslim students put an end to her, and that it’s both terrifying and very painful."

Throughout this ordeal, Kaminsky repeatedly sought to transfer to another school but claimed she was met with further retaliation and restrictions. Despite finally being transferred to a school in Queens, she was informed that her stay would be temporary, leaving her uncertain about her future.

Kaminsky's lawyer, Jim Walden, expressed their determination to uncover the source of the threatening email and seek justice through litigation, as per the New York Post.

Internet users assert such anti-semitic attacks on Jewish teachers is 'disgusting'

Coming to Kaminsky's defense, a reader online wrote, "This is disgusting! No teacher should have to be abused by the students or the schools. The problem is that the Jewish Americans kept voting for Dems and now they have to live with the repercussions. They helped put in office the people who hate them."

Another user wrote, "I don’t tecognize this America anymore. To allow this behavior, on any level, goes against everything this country built its foundation on. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Everyone of these students who protest and demand the erasure of the Jewish race should be jailed and tried for hate crimes. No exceptions."

A user commented, "I just can't believe how this deep seated hatred of Jews has sprung up, completely in the open....very disturbing. love all people, especially Jewish.....very disturbing, people should be embarrassed to spread this hatred."

Another user commented, "The people who do it have no sense of embarrassment and are emboldened when they see there are no ramifications."

A user stated, "Enough is enough. This is completely out of control. What the heck did the Jewish faith ever do to you? Stop the hatred NOW!"

 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.