White, Other House GOP Leaders Call for Probe into Potential Antisemitism in Philadelphia Schools

October 5, 2026

HARRISBURG – The House of Representatives’ Republican leadership team last week asked Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday to investigate whether a systemic pattern of discrimination against Jewish students exists in the School District of Philadelphia.

House Republican Caucus Chairwoman Martina White (R-Philadelphia) discussed disturbing news reports with her colleagues and asked them to join her in requesting the probe be conducted by the attorney general’s Civil Rights Enforcement Section.

“Jewish students, like students from all faith and ethnic backgrounds, deserve to learn in an environment where they are respected, included and free from discrimination. It is impossible to learn when you are worried about continued aggressions,” White said.

White authored a letter signed by House Republican Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) and others. The letter cites online threats of Jewish parents and students, a federal discrimination case involving swastika graffiti, and curriculum material from a polarizing initiative called “Teaching Palestine.”

White said the need to address these concerns carries even greater urgency with the approaching third anniversary of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, which led to a disturbing rise in antisemitism across the United States and globe.

“The School District of Philadelphia has a troubling history of not protecting its Jewish students. School leaders need to speak up and bring an end to that pattern,” White said. “I thank our attorney general in advance for his expeditious review of these concerns.”

Representative Martina White
170th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Fitch
717.260.6563
jfitch@pahousegop.com
www.RepWhite.com / www.facebook.com/RepMartinaWhite