The Department of Justice is taking legal action against UCLA, accusing the university of being negligent in protecting Jewish and Israeli students. This move follows reports of discrimination and violence against these students during a protest in 2024 where agitators allegedly beat and pepper-sprayed individuals. Human rights attorney Brooke Goldstein has highlighted how antisemitism is being used in political contexts.
Meanwhile, a principal from a Massachusetts middle school, Dr. Johnny Cole, has found himself embroiled in controversy. Cole reportedly apologized to students who felt “unseen” during a Holocaust education lesson. A screenshot of his apology, shared by the advocacy group StopAntisemitism, has received backlash. In his message, Cole emphasized the lesson’s goal of teaching students to recognize and speak against hate. Yet, some students’ families reported feeling “unseen” by the lesson.
Criticism has come from various quarters, arguing that Holocaust education should not be tailored to comfort students but should prioritize historical accuracy. StopAntisemitism stated that understanding the Holocaust is crucial to comprehending antisemitism’s development in society. School leaders have the duty to defend factual history, and failing to do so could lead to widespread misinformation, the group asserted.
Among the critics, Fox News analyst Guy Benson stated that Holocaust education should not focus on students’ feelings. Similarly, Israeli activist Hen Mazzig argued against the notion that teaching about the Holocaust requires an apology. Mazzig underscored the importance of Holocaust education, suggesting that feelings of exclusion might highlight a greater need for the lesson.
Cole did not respond to requests for comment, nor did he specify which parts of the lesson caused the complaints. The principal previously faced scrutiny for allegedly making a student remove a sweatshirt that had slogans including “Punch Nazis.” The student, Teagan Murtagh, whose great-grandmother was a Holocaust survivor, shared her views in The Lexington Observer, expressing a desire to show resilience and assert her stance against what she perceives as the principal’s overreach.