PIEDMONT — Reports of anti-Semitic behavior and racial slurs toward students at Piedmont High School led to an all-student assembly Monday to address the problem that some students say has been going on for months.
Rabbi Mark Bloom of Oakland’s Temple Beth Abraham said his 17-year old son, a junior at Piedmont High, told his father about several incidents — students giving “Heil Hitler” salutes; students forming a dance routine in the shape of a swastika in gym class; and other students targeted for their ethnicity with racial slurs. The incidents came to light with a television report on Channel 2 KTVU Tuesday, where several students shared their experiences with a reporter. Some of the students were frustrated because they felt their concerns were not addressed early enough by the school.
“Addressing issues behind the scenes is not always the best way to handle things,” Bloom said. “Stuff like this happens, it’s rampant (between) pockets of friends.”
Bloom’s son participated in the student assembly by reading a letter from another student who was hurt by anti-Semitic remarks and actions.
“We don’t know everything (the school) has done or is doing. There was a suspension, but we don’t know more. They are strategizing the best way to handle and get to the bottom of this. I suspect they’re not done with this work yet,” Bloom said.
Piedmont police Chief Jeremy Bowers said Wednesday police were not called in for support and briefings until this past week.
“Our officer was on campus for an unrelated matter on April 28” and got wind of the problems, Bowers said.
“Hate incidents in any shape or form are extremely serious. We were briefed by the school district the reports they were getting.
“Our focus is to ascertain the safety of the students and determine if there were any hate incidents,” Bowers said, adding anyone should feel free to report to police any hate incidents.
“We want to hear from (victims) so they can acknowledge what they are going through,” Bowers said.
The chief did not share details of the alleged hate incidents, nor did he say whether any student was charged with such activity, deferring to Superintendent Randy Booker for details.
Booker told KTVU on Tuesday, “Student participation at the assembly reflected the overall positive character and integrity that we see in our student body. Piedmont Unified is dedicated to creating a safe, secure, respectful learning environment for all, with no tolerance for bigotry.”
Booker could not be immediately reached for comment Wednesday.
The Piedmont school district also sent out a letter to parents about the reported incidents Monday.
Jakob Armstrong, a senior at Piedmont’s continuation high school, Millennium High, said Wednesday that students were shocked to learn of the incidents.
“Millennium is a very inclusive and respectful community,” the 18-year-old Armstrong said, “and we were all very concerned when we heard about it.”
Students at Millennium gathered for an assembly in a classroom to discuss the reports. At Piedmont High School, an assembly was held in the gymnasium.
“We can’t know for sure if it will help,” Armstrong said. “But I sure hope that it does.”
Bloom believes the social unrest in society at large has an effect on students.
“It’s very worrisome,” Bloom said. “Dialogue is not happening at all.”
Staff writer Peter Hegarty contributed to this article.
