Former assistant school superintendent sues city leadership for ‘nefarious’ antisemitism, racial favoritism

A former assistant school superintendent in New Jersey is suing his own mayor and school district for racial discrimination and retaliation after they allegedly made blatantly antisemitic comments.

Paul Oliveira, former assistant superintendent at Linden Public Schools (LPS), filed a lawsuit May 23 citing discriminatory hiring practices and a toxic work environment.

The suit alleges LPS, at the behest of Linden City Mayor Derek Armstead, prioritized the hiring of black or Haitian individuals while disparaging the Jewish community.

Oliveira claims to have witnessed Armstead and members of the Linden Board of Education saying things such as:

• “If it’s in a neighborhood school district, it should be, we don’t mind if it is a black person or a Haitian speaking person.” 

• “That is what has to happen in order to keep our community from being taken over by guys with big hats and curls,” referring to Orthodox Jews.  

• “How many of the teachers that you are hiring are black?”   

When Oliveira questioned the legality of race-based hiring, he alleges city leadership refused to answer his concerns and instead launched a campaign of retaliation.  

“[LPS Superintendent Atiya Y. Perkins] began fabricating criticism of [Oliveira’s] work performance via emails and formal memoranda, creating a work environment so unbearably hostile that Plaintiff was forced to take protected medical leave to deal with the stress and anxiety,” the lawsuit reads. 

“The facts show that Defendants had a much more nefarious and, illegal, agenda in mind; namely, an illegal hiring practice involving antisemitism where Jewish individuals are deliberately excluded from consideration for employment positions.” 

Per a Jewish news outlet, Linden has a growing Hasidic community.  

Joseph Garcia, attorney for the Linden Board of Education, told a newspaper he hadn’t been served the lawsuit yet but that Oliveira’s claims “have no merit.”  

Armstead, who is campaigning for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, has since apologized for his antisemitic comments.   

“The Mayor apologizes for comments referencing Hasidic Jews as ‘guys in big hats and curls,’ and remains staunchly committed to diversity and inclusivity in the community,” an official statement reads. “Armstead was advocating, as he always has, for a workforce that reflects the diversity of the student body.”  

However, he accused Oliveira’s lawsuit of being extortionate, saying the timing was suspicious given “Armstead’s prominent position in the Democratic congressional primary.” 

Oliveira disagrees.  

“The Linden [Board of Education] unlawfully abrogated their responsibility to their constituents by allowing Mayor Armstead to handpick candidates of his choosing for open positions,” Oliveira’s attorney said in a press release.  

“At its core, Defendants’ egregious conduct amounts to blatant discrimination against members of the Orthodox Jewish community. Mr. Oliveira is bringing this suit to vindicate his rights and the rights of others to work in an environment free of invidious discrimination and retaliation.”  

The lawsuit alleges various counts of unlawful employment practices and retaliation. Oliveira is seeking the reinstatement of his position, monetary damages and action to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.