One student was forced to say ‘Free Palestine’
The Anti-Defamation League and U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights have filed a Title VI complaint against the Philadelphia School District for allowing antisemitism to “flourish.”
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the complaint adds to a previous one made in March against the city’s popular Masterman magnet school.
The ADL cited examples of “hostile behavior” towards Jews and Israelis such as “praising” Adolf Hitler, forcing a student to say “Free Palestine,” giving a Nazi salute to a (Jewish) student, and teachers making anti-Israel/anti-Zionist posts on social media.
One specific incident alleged a teacher had 9th graders create “protest posters” for which some students made placards reading “From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free.” After a complaint, school administrators said they needed formal approval from the district to take the posters down from display.
In the meantime, the student whose parents made the complaint was sent to the library “without instruction” until the district rendered a decision (which ultimately was the removal of the posters and the teacher’s contract not being renewed).
The complaint claims the district “failed to intervene” and “knowingly allowed” such incidents.
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The group Philly Educators for Palestine took issue with the complaint:
“We wish to emphasize that criticism of Zionism or the Israeli government is not antisemitism, and attempts to label it as such is not only antisemitic itself but troubling as it will shut down any opportunity for critical thought and discussion,” the organization said in a statement.
The group emphasized its broad, multiracial coalition that includes Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and atheist educators “who believe in racial justice and firmly stand against genocide happening anywhere around the world.”
The group said it will continue to stand in solidarity with Palestinians. The group is calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and has promised to keep fighting for the voices and rights of the student body, including Palestinian and Muslim students.
One of the ADL’s suggestions for district climate improvement is acknowledging that Zionism is “a key component of Jewish identity for many students.”
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