Mayor Eric Adams slams students’ ‘vile display of anti-Semitism’ that forced pro-Israel teacher into hiding in office
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said city officials are investigating a “vile display of anti-Semitism” in which students at a high school in Queens reportedly rioted after learning that a teacher was attending a pro-Israel demonstration.
The incident locked down Hillcrest High School in Jamaica Hills, Queens, for two hours on Monday and forced the teacher to hide inside a locked office as students rampaged through the hallways, the New York Post reported for the first time.
“The vile display of anti-Semitism at Hillcrest High School was motivated by hate fueled by ignorance, plain and simple, and will not be tolerated in any of our schools, let alone anywhere else in our city,” Adams wrote in X .
“We are better than this,” the mayor added.
Palestinian New York man sentenced for brutal anti-Semitic beating before judge throws angry supporters out of court
New York Mayor Eric Adams said New York City Public Schools has launched a full investigation into how the “vile display of anti-Semitism” at Hillcrest High School in Jamaica Hills, Queens, took place. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
The students had planned a protest after seeing a photo on Facebook of the teacher holding a sign that said, “I stand with Israel,” according to the report. In the student group chat, they talked about “starting a riot,” one student told the outlet.
Shortly after 11 a.m. Monday, hundreds of teenagers stormed the hallways, where they sang, waved Palestinian flags and shouted that the teacher “has to go,” according to the report. Parts of the incident were captured on video and posted on TikTok.
The teacher, whose name was not released, has worked in the city school system for 23 years and has taught at Hillcrest for the past seven years. She told the Post that she was “moved to the core” by the calls for violence against her both online and in the hallways outside her classroom.
“No one should ever feel unsafe at school, neither the students nor the teachers,” the teacher said.
UCLA PROFESSOR RAISES SCHOOL’S ‘CORRECT’ RESPONSE TO ANTISEMITISM ON CAMPUS: ‘COMPLICATED WITH HAMAS’
Adams said New York City Public Schools has begun a full investigation into how the incident occurred. She also said Project Pivot teams will begin reaching out to Hillcrest students this week “to make sure they understand why this behavior was unacceptable.”
“No student, teacher or staff member should have to fear for their safety in our schools,” the mayor said.
Since Hamas terrorists launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, American Jews have become the target of increased anti-Semitic hatred.
CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In New York City, the NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force investigated 69 anti-Jewish incidents in October, a 214% increase compared to the same period last year.
