The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) in Colorado, alleging a Jewish student at Southern Hills Middle School was subjected to severe and escalating antisemitic harassment and physical assault. The complaint, lodged with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights in June 2026, highlights the district's alleged failure to intervene effectively despite repeated notifications from the student's parents. This action follows a series of incidents, including a particularly violent one in December 2025 that prompted police involvement.
In a disturbing incident in December 2025, a classmate at Southern Hills Middle School reportedly fashioned a Chromebook charging cord into a lasso, threw it around the Jewish student’s neck, and dragged him backward from a chair while calling him a “stupid k***.” As stated in a tweet by FayeHedder, "This was deemed severe enough that the Boulder Police Department was called in." The Boulder Police Department subsequently opened a juvenile criminal court referral for third-degree assault in connection with the incident.
The December 2025 assault was not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of alleged antisemitic bullying that began in 2024 and intensified throughout the 2025-26 school year. The ADL complaint details instances of students attempting to play a game called “Jew touch tag” in April 2025, using Nazi salutes, making Holocaust-related mockery, and employing antisemitic slurs. Despite the student's family consistently notifying school officials, the ADL alleges the district did not provide a meaningful response to stop the harassment.
James Pasch, ADL Vice President of Litigation, emphasized the overwhelming evidence, stating, "The record here is overwhelming: written pleas from the student’s parents, formal school reports and a police investigation all point to the conclusion that antisemitic harassment at Southern Hills Middle School was pervasive, escalating and severe." The ADL is seeking a zero-tolerance policy for antisemitic conduct, mandatory training for staff and students, and improved reporting mechanisms. Susan Rona, ADL Mountain States Regional Director, noted that Colorado recorded 167 antisemitic incidents in 2025, underscoring the broader issue.
The student, who was eventually removed from the school, reportedly no longer wears a Star of David necklace or shares his religious identity due to the pervasive hostile environment. The Boulder Valley School District, while declining to comment on ongoing legal matters, stated, "We take all allegations of discrimination and harassment seriously. We continue to focus on improvements to our policies, reporting systems, practices, and education efforts—all with the goal of ensuring every BVSD student feels safe, welcomed, and a strong sense of belonging.”
