Legislator 'Alarmed' By Nassau Students Facing Anti-Semitism At Schools

MINEOLA, NY — Amid a rise in hate across the country and on Long Island, Nassau County Legislator Arnold Drucker (D-Plainvew) organized a Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism.

Drucker's plan was to hear from students, administrators and others to "get a pulse of the community."

He recently coordinated a meeting at Plainview-Old Bethpage High School to find out what they experience. Two students detailed how they face anti-Semitism.

"They just blew us away," Drucker told Patch.

He called their testimony "jarring" and "forthright." The students spoke again, by Drucker's request, at the Task Force's public hearing.

"This is a chronic epidemic of hate," he said. "It's time that school districts did something about it."

Plainview-Old Bethpage has zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, Drucker said.

One main reason for the task force, Drucker said, is to shine a light on how pervasive the problem is, and "garner enough outrage and call to action that this type of behavior can not exist."

While there are the occasional graffiti anti-Semitism epitaphs, Drucker didn't realize the hate was so commonplace.

"You didn't know it was the commentary, the social media problem exists for these students," Drucker said.

Whether at home or school, Drucker wants to see more education to address this, including studies on anti-Semitism to open a dialogue and provide a better understanding of knowing "how dangerous it is."

Drucker pointed out how one of the students spoke eloquently about making sure to nip anti-Semitism early before it manifests in more serious ways.

The legislator anticipates another public hearing with additional testimony at a later date.

"I'm optimistic, but at the same time, alarmed," Drucker said.