A 15-year-old former student from Nathan Hale High School in Seattle has filed a lawsuit alleging that she experienced severe antisemitism during her freshman year, particularly following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The student, who wishes to remain anonymous to avoid unwanted attention at her new school, claims that classmates accused her of supporting genocide in Gaza.
“I felt scared and personally attacked,” she stated. “I lost a lot of friends.”
In the complaint filed by her family, it is alleged that the school’s principal and vice principal, William Jackson and Makela Steward-Monroe, failed to intervene or provide adequate protection when incidents of harassment began to escalate.
Jennifer, the student’s mother, expressed her deep frustration over the school’s handling of the situation.
“I felt totally helpless. It’s horrible. I remember appealing to the principal, asking him repeatedly, ‘How old is your daughter? What if somebody was saying something like this to your daughter?’” she remarked.
The lawsuit details numerous troubling incidents, including threats against her life, spitting, and hateful remarks such as “Hitler’s plan should have worked” and “I hate the Jews.”
In response to the allegations, Seattle Public Schools issued a statement indicating their commitment to creating an inclusive environment and their intention to review the claims made in the lawsuit.
The statement emphasized, “SPS will review and address these allegations. The district remains dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all students, and does not tolerate racism, discrimination, or violence in any form.”
However, as of the latest updates, the district had not addressed specific inquiries regarding measures taken to combat antisemitism on campus.
According to the lawsuit, the intimidation escalated, culminating in a troubling incident just before the summer break.
On May 22, 2024, the student reported that a group of her peers congregated outside her classroom, urging her to leave the safety of the room.
A teacher locked the door, while the crowd outside grew larger, chanting threats and demanding she come out.
“I felt terrified as they were shouting, ‘We know you’re in there, come and get what you deserve,’” the student recounted.
Eventually, a security guard escorted her to the office, leading to a temporary safety plan where she was to be accompanied by an adult while on campus.
However, according to her mother, that plan did not last long.
“After we arranged for her to have an escort, Steward-Monroe told me that we can’t keep this up and that we can’t keep her safe,” Jennifer said.
Ultimately, with ongoing fears for her daughter’s safety, the family decided to transfer the student to a new school.
Reflecting on her current situation, the former student expressed relief.
“I had a much better year. The environment and the way that the school supported their students is so very different,” she said.
image source from：king5
