Trump administration expands antisemitism investigation at Swarthmore College
A student group whose affiliation with the college had already been revoked, allegedly reposted a video on Instagram showing an effigy of an Israeli soldier being burned.
The U.S. Department of Education said Wednesday it was expanding its antisemitism investigation of Swarthmore College after a student group allegedly shared a video of an effigy of an Israeli soldier being set on fire.
The group, Students for Justice in Palestine, already had its affiliation revoked by Swarthmore College in 2025 for past actions that were deemed to be violations of college policies.
On Monday, the group reportedly reposted a video, which it has since deleted, showing fuel being poured on an effigy dressed in an Israeli soldier uniform and set on fire while the video promotes a pro-Palestine protest at Rittenhouse Square on Wednesday evening.
The video declares in writing “Long live Al-Aqsa Flood,” which is the name used by Hamas for its attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
A representative for the student group could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
Andy Hirsch, a spokesperson for Swarthmore College, said in an emailed statement that the college was notified Wednesday afternoon by the U.S. Education Department about the expanded investigation, and that it was the first contact from the federal government about the investigation since the probe started in late 2024.
“We understand this latest OCR [U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights] action was prompted by a video posted online by a Philadelphia-based group, also with no known affiliation to the College, that shows the burning of an effigy of an Israeli soldier. That video was reposted by a social media account using the handle @swarthmoresjp (Swarthmore Students for Justice in Palestine or SJP),” Hirsch said.
“SJP is not a recognized organization at the College, and hasn’t been since September 2025, when the College permanently revoked its affiliation. That means the group is prohibited from accessing College funds, scheduling or hosting events on campus, or accessing any other College resources available to student organizations. Additionally, other student organizations are prohibited from co-sponsoring, acting on behalf of, or affiliating with Swarthmore SJP in any manner,” Hirsch said.
“This is not the first time this account has shared deeply offensive, if not reprehensible content on its social media account, which the College has condemned in the past. But the College has no control over what is posted to @swarthmoresjp. Beyond that, it’s unclear whether those running the account now are even Swarthmore students. During the investigation that led to the College’s decision to revoke the group’s affiliation, it started acting anonymously, and students who were members of the group claimed they were no longer affiliated with the organization,” Hirsch said.
“While we believe the complaints that led to OCR’s expanded investigation have no merit, we will comply with the law and work with the Department of Education as it reviews the allegations,” Hirsch added.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights said it was expanding its investigation, which was started in late 2024, “over complaints that it has not adequately and promptly responded to particularly egregious antisemitic propaganda on campus.”
With the Oct. 7 anniversary approaching, “the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Swarthmore College saw fit to release a video depicting an Israeli soldier being doused in gasoline and burnt in effigy,” the department said.
The department added: “The video then shows the burning Israeli soldier under a Palestinian flag and proceeds to call on supporters to go ‘All Out’ at rallies on October 6 and October 7, 2026. ”
The Education Department then said: “In the context in which that call is presented, ‘All Out’ appears to be a call to violence.”
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement: “If Swarthmore has in fact turned a blind eye to such provocation — using the most horrific acts of violence against Jews since the Holocaust as a propaganda tool — someone is asleep at the wheel.”
Richey added: “The Trump Administration will never allow students to be subjected to an unsafe learning environment. It appears the college’s leaders have cravenly allowed this to happen; therefore, OCR will thoroughly investigate Swarthmore College to determine whether the school violated Title VI. Every student must have equal treatment under the law.”
