William H. Booth, chairman of the City Commission on Human Rights, today designated two members of the commission to probe charges of “blatant and vicious anti-Semitic outbursts and racist behavior, “by members of CORE — the Congress of Racial Equality — directed against principals and teachers in four public schools in predominantly Negro neighborhoods.”
Mr. Booth appointed Commissioners Dorothy Hart Hirshon and Frank C. Montero to investigate the charges. Declaring that they would, at the same time, try to bring “the parties together in an atmosphere of understanding and frank discussion,” he expressed the hope that the commissioners would also be able to resolve the issue raised by CORE representatives, “who seek equality of education for their children.” The charges were filed by the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.
According to the ADL, CORE members had harassed principals and teachers, subjecting them to anti-Semitic epithets at three schools in Brooklyn and one in Queens. The ADL submitted documents backing its charges and specifically pointing to persons connected with CORE chapters in those two New York City boroughs.
In one instance, the ADL charged, at a meeting with school officials, a CORE representative in Brooklyn had stated: “We’ve got to get these Jews out of Bedford-Stuyvesant. It’s the Jews who are to blame.” Bedford-Stuyvesant is largely a Negro ghetto in Brooklyn. During a demonstration by 40 CORE members in Queens, the ADL alleged, demonstrators shouted: “Why don’t you white Jews go back to Great Neck?”
CORE has charged that principals and teachers lack “sincere interest” in educational equality for Negroes and Puerto Ricans. Robert Carson, community relations director of CORE in Brooklyn, said “we welcome an official inquiry.” At one of the schools, in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. CORE accused the principal and nine teachers of “physical abuse” of pupils. But Harry R. Levine. principal of another of the schools involved, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, said he was “fearful of my life” after groups had petitioned the Board of Education for his removal.
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