The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center strongly condemn Smithfield School administrators’ decision to reinstate five football players involved in a horrific antisemitic hazing attack against a Jewish freshman student. 

The administration has gone back on the disciplinary actions they previously shared with us—one that outlined clear consequences for those students responsible, which included suspension from the football team for the remainder of the season.  

We are calling for a formal apology from the Superintendent of the Smithfield School Department for the way this situation has been handled. We also demand that the district follow through with professional development for all staff and require anti-bias education for the student body. 

Our organizations have engaged the school in good faith since first learning about this incident. This abrupt reversal, coupled with the administration’s failure to respond to multiple outreach attempts from both organizations and the victim’s family, represents a serious breach of trust. 

Administrators must understand that reversing consequences sends a dangerous message—that such hateful behavior will be tolerated. Moments like these remind us how vulnerable a minority community can feel. Everyone—Jewish or not—should be outraged by this failure of leadership. 

Antisemitism is surging—appearing in our neighborhoods, classrooms, and public institutions. Behaviors once relegated to the margins are now creeping into the mainstream. Jewish communities throughout Rhode Island and beyond are experiencing unprecedented waves of bigotry and intimidation. 

Our organizations remain steadfast in fighting antisemitism and all forms of hatred.