A Brooklyn parent advisory board promoted and organized a student walkout for Palestine this week — a clear violation of state regulations, angry critics told The Post.
The Community Education Council for District 14, which covers ultra-liberal Williamsburg and Greenpoint, used its platform to encourage a 700-student protest involving 100 schools — even sharing resources including an antisemitic sign that read, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Recommended chants include, “Rejection is justified when people are occupied” and “Say it loud, say it clearly, we don’t want Zionists here!”
Students who protested Thursday near Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, were caught on video screaming“F–k the Jews!”
Jewish students were horrified.
A Fort Hamilton High School mother said her daughter didn’t go to school Friday because she was scared.
When the mother called the school, an administrator told her it was “complicated.”
A toolkit created by parents, teachers and activist groups provides protest signs with graphics supporting Palestine.toolkit
“I know firsthand what antisemitism is but I never in my life thought my daughter would have to go through something like this,” the mother said.
Parent involvement has been slammed as antisemitic, “hate-filled” and a violation of the board’s responsibilities, which give them the power to influence educational priorities, evaluate superintendents, advise the Chancellor and the Panel for Education Policy, and serve as district liaisons.
“It’s crazy they’re allowed to do this,” said a District 14 elementary school mother, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation. “You can have your personal opinion but when you’re in the school hall, it’s not appropriate to announce it.”
Proposed protest materials and chants for Thursday’s rally include evoking the phrase, “From the River to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
Elected officials also slammed the board — and demanded an investigation.
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato in Queens demanded to find out how much public funds were spent on the rally.
He blasted CEC 14 president Tajh Sutton for using his position “to display his bias on political issues, promote antisemitism and violate New York City Public Schools rules.”
Protesters gather outside Brooklyn College on Thursday for the National Shutdown for Palestine.James Keivom
Bronx City Councilman Eric Dinowitz blasted the CEC on Facebook for using his government’s official email to send a blast calling for the act to come out.
The chancellor’s rules state that councilors cannot use email lists, websites, social media accounts or other platforms they can access through their positions “for their personal benefit or personal gain.”
Another rule states that the Conflict of Interest Law applies to community education council members.
Parents demand action against the education council because of blatant political actions District 14.X @council_14
It prohibits “engaging in any private business, transaction, or professional or political activity during the time they are scheduled to work for the New York City Department of Education.”
Sutton, who is represented by the Baddie School Board at X, touts her role as CEC president on her personal website, along with her modeling portfolio and media appearances.
His CEC shared a flyer for the event on his Instagram page, writing, “We hope to see your young people, families and staff at the gathering.”
Tajh Sutton, who attended Board Baddie School at X, touts her role as CEC president on her personal website along with her modeling portfolio and media appearances.tajhsutton.com
It works with groups including the Palestinian Youth Movement, Teachers Unite, the New York Collective for Radical Educators, CUNY for Palestine, and the UFT’s Stage Movement and Educators caucus, according to the flyer.
The coalition worked on a broad “toolkit”, which offered talking points to deal with the press, including misinformation such as, “At least 900 have just been killed in the Al-Ahli hospital bombing.”
US intelligence says between 100 and 300 dead.
CEC 14 in Brooklyn partnered with organizations including the Palestinian Youth Movement, Teachers Unite and the UFT Educators Rank and File Movement caucus for Thursday’s protest. Instagram @cecd14
CEC 14 has not released recordings or minutes of meetings since April, despite the Open Meetings Law it is subject to, and sources said the decision to support the protest was based on an “internal agreement,” without a public forum and vote.
Elsewhere in the city, the CEC has struggled to pass a symbolic resolution condemning attacks on Israel, with members arguing against political statements that make people “uncomfortable.”
Nearly 1,500 parents signed a petition demanding the board members be fired for inflammatory posts and divisive rhetoric.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered Thursday at a “Schools Out for Cease-Fire Now” walkout in Bryant Park.ZUMAPRESS.com
“Nobody can tell us who they answer to,” the elementary school mother said of CEC 14. “I’m surprised that nobody can do anything about it.”
Lisa Liss pulled her children out of District 14 public schools because of concerns of antisemitism before the war. “I almost want to thank them for finally showing everyone exactly who they are and proving what I’ve been saying all along.”
Schools Chancellor David Banks this week provided firm guidance to staff about “where the line lies between our responsibilities as public school district employees, and our personal lives and views.”
Hundreds of anti-Israel protesters descended on Bryant Park Thursday evening to walk out of the country.ZUMAPRESS.com
“As school district employees, and especially in times like these, we must show through our actions and words how to unite – instead of creating division and bias,” he said.
Complaints made about councilors ultimately rest with the chancellor.
DOE and Sutton did not return messages seeking comment.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
