Ultra-Orthodox Jews plan mass protests against religious school integration ruling
By APThursday, June 17, 2010
Ultra-Orthodox Jews protesting integration ruling
JERUSALEM — Ultra-Orthodox Jews have called mass demonstrations to protest a Supreme Court ruling forcing the integration of a religious girls’ school.
Parents of European, or Ashkenazi, descent don’t want their children studying with schoolgirls of Mideast and North African descent, known as Sephardim.
The Ashkenazi parents insist they aren’t racist. They say they want the classrooms segregated because the families of the Sephardim girls aren’t religious enough.
Parents who defy the ruling are to be imprisoned Thursday for two weeks for contempt of court.
Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews are expected to attend protests in various places across the country. Police say thousands of officers are being deployed to secure the demonstrations.
