PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied outside Thursday night’s Philadelphia School Board meeting, more than 30 speakers inside shared their concerns with the board, claiming the district needs to do more to protect them for voicing their views in school.
They say Palestinian students and teachers are being censored and threatened. The claims stem from the district’s decision to pull a student video for Black History Month at Northeast High School, which compared Palestinian art to the struggle of Black Americans. Some Jewish groups saw the video as antisemitic.
“I believe it’s a deep disgrace that this whole dustup began by students drawing connections from the Palestinian experience to the Black American experience here, because I see those links too,” City Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke addressed the board.
“The fear teachers have that they might be labeled as antisemitic for discussing Palestine should frighten all of us,” said former history teacher Adam Sanchez.
Other speakers, like teacher Hannah Gann, demanded the district hold a protected listening session for Palestinian students: “I am speaking up to demand that you hold a protected listening session for Palestinians, Sudanese, Congolese, Haitian and other students to tell you what it feels like to try to learn while your people face horrific and relentless violence.”
Superintendent Tony Watlington agreed to the listening session, but he asked for a “little bit of grace” as the district worked through the process.
He noted the district doesn’t condone antisemitism or Islamophobia, though he couldn’t comment on specific incidents.
“It doesn’t mean that we’re hiding anything,” said Watlington. “There are a number of items that have been brought to our attention that are being appropriately investigated.”
He said the district’s job is to create environments where diverse points of view can be discussed without demonizing people.