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Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a significant demonstration of anti-Israel animus, hundreds of New York City public school students walked out of their schools on Friday afternoon to stage a pro-Palestinian protest. According to the information provided in a New York Post report on Friday, the protest, held at the Department of Education headquarters at the historic Tweed Courthouse in Lower Manhattan, was promoted by several radical teacher groups and drew attention to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Resource for supporting NYC students. Parents are encouraged to take part & share. Free Palestine!!! 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸https://t.co/qENoBynYao pic.twitter.com/4q1AcPATYc
— NYC Educators For Palestine (@nycedpalestine) May 30, 2024
Starting around 2:30 p.m., students from various high schools across the city gathered, waving signs that called for a cease-fire in Gaza and condemned Israel’s military actions following the October 7 terror attack as “genocide,” as was reported by The Post. The demonstration was marked by hate filled speeches and anti-Israel chants, reflecting the seething resentment of Israel held by the young participants.
The walkout was organized by a coalition of groups including Teachers Unite, NYC Educators for Palestine, the Palestine Youth Movement, Al-Awda NY, Movement of MORE Rank-&-File Educators, and Desis Rising Up and Moving, as per the information contained in The Post report. These organizations, known for their strident anti-Israel agenda, provided a protest toolkit to the students, that was reviewed by The New York Post.
📍New York City: Thousands of New York City high school students walked out of class today, with hundreds rallying outside the headquarters of the Department of Education to demand an end to the Zionist genocide and a liberated Palestine pic.twitter.com/ryV3x66whK
— Palestinian Youth Movement (@palyouthmvmt) May 31, 2024
This toolkit provided detailed instructions on how to execute a walkout, offering tips to students on organizing their peers and advising teachers on their civil engagement rights, The Post reported. In typical Marxist fashion, the information sheet emphasized the importance of collective action and provided a roadmap for similar demonstrations.
“I’m fighting for humanity, I don’t care what they do,” one student from Stuyvesant High School told the Post, expressing her indifference to potential disciplinary actions for participating in the walkout. “I took an absent day,” she added in her comments to The Post, indicating her willingness to face the consequences for her actions.
Despite the organized nature of the protest, the main leaders remained unclear. Even among the participants, there was uncertainty about who was directing the event. Indicated in The Post report was that this decentralized organization style is often characteristic of grassroots movements, where the collective voice is prioritized over individual leadership.
Students from several prominent high schools were represented at the protest. In addition to Stuyvesant High School, about 50 to 100 students from LaGuardia High School and an unknown number from Brooklyn Technical High School joined the demonstration, as was noted in the Post report. Police estimated that by 3:30 p.m., the crowd had swelled to approximately 200 participants. Among them was a group of about 20 to 30 students from Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn. In addition, approximately 60 students from Susan E. Wagner High School on Staten Island also joined the walkout.
The Post report indicated that the protest aimed to protect anti-Israel students and teachers from “unjust administrative retaliation and suspension.” In an online statement, Teachers Unite emphasized the importance of safeguarding the rights of those who speak out against Israel, framing the walkout as a necessary action to ensure their safety and freedom of expression.
Joining the students outside the Tweed Courthouse were educators and adult protesters, all united under the banner of solidarity with Palestine. The report in the Post added that the demonstrators carried signs calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and labeling Israel’s military operations as “genocide.”
Teachers Unite and its partners also used this platform to call for the city to redirect funding from policing to educational initiatives, specifically advocating for the incorporation of Palestinian history into the school curriculum, as per the information in The Post report. They argue that a more comprehensive understanding of global history and contemporary issues is essential for fostering informed and engaged citizens.
The protest at the Tweed Courthouse culminated in a rally and march scheduled for 3 p.m., as outlined in the leaflet distributed ahead of the event. Despite attempts by Department of Education Chancellor David Banks to discourage the protest, the turnout reflected a significant level of support among students and educators. “I’m a big believer in student voice and kids standing up for the things that they believe in … I don’t think you need to have continued walkouts to do that,” Banks stated during a press briefing on Thursday, according to The Post report. His remarks, however, did little to deter the determined young activists.
The involvement of radical teacher groups in promoting the walkout has sparked debate. Critics argue that educators should maintain a neutral stance and avoid influencing students’ political activities. However, supporters contend that teachers have a responsibility to encourage critical thinking and civic engagement, especially on pressing global issues.
