"That is very different from antisemitic comments that targets the Jewish people. "I ended the talk by kind of stressing there are forces out there that try to divide people based on our differences," she said. 0. Rabbi Alana Alpert of Congregation Tchiyah defended Arraf at the April 30 town hall at the library hosted by the group. Because that's making a Palestinian exception," Arraf said. "I was upset. ", "We actively listened to the concerns of our students, families, and community and put together a comprehensive plan toward healing as a community," the statement added. The tensions over the past couple of months led to polarized debates, but also attempts to bring people together. ", To wake up and see these organizations completely misconstruing my message and calling me anti-Semetic, I'm not surprised, but its really unfortunate, Arraf said. She said she is married to a Jewish man. I want you to look at me and think, What is his story? Yes, because the situation is unlivable for millions and silence just doesn't do it.. For this we are very sorry," Superintendent Pat Watsonsaid in a statement. Palestinians have been so vilified that our struggle for freedom is also vilified.. One man was ushered out by police in a tense, standing room only emergency meeting called by the Bloomfield Hills School Board. Included in those experiences was a presentation by well-known speaker Dr. Adolph Brown III. Arraf's speech has prompted backlash from some parents, students and community religious leaders. ", "First of all an apology these days - isnt it rare to see that?" The district plans to train staff on identifying antisemitism and Islamophobia and helping students navigate these issues. Brandon Carr is a digital content producer for ClickOnDetroit and has been with WDIV Local 4 since November 2021. The Jewish Community Relations Council called out the district over a speaker they say spread anti-Israel messages, making Jewish students feel uncomfortable, fearful and attacked. The school is designed to support the highest levels of student engagement and academic success,with highly collaborative and technical learning spaces for our students. It has 1,715 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. 2023 FOX Television Stations. Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 A noted anti-Israeli Palestinian speaker at a diversity assembly at Bloomfield Hills High School on Tuesday, March 13, who made statements calling Israel an apartheid state, "an oppressor," as well as denying Israel's existence, has left many Jewish students and others in the community upset and uncomfortable, with the school district seemingly . Leaders from both the Jewish and Muslim faiths spoke in the name of healing and unity. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He wants me to reach them. "I spoke about my parents leaving Palestine when my mother was pregnant with me because they wanted their children to grow up knowing freedom and having rights and opportunity, all of which are not available to Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation," Arraf said. Thats bull (Expletive). FOX 2 (WJBK) - Bloomfield Hills High School is apologizing for what it is calling an anti-Israel speech from a Palestinian speaker at a diversity assembly. They coordinate all curriculum areas including instructional strategies and assessment. Tensions flared in an emergency meeting held at the Bloomfield Hills Board of Education before parents and community leaders could even voice their outrage, an anti-Israeli activist was allowed to present at Bloomfield Hills High School. Later in the speech, Brown opened the American flag backpack to reveal a Spiderman backpack that had been hidden inside. The event was praised by Arab American and Muslim groups while the CEO of the largest Jewish civil rights group, the Anti-Defamation League, called it "disgraceful.". The school district has also hired a Troy firm to investigate what happened. "You have failed my Jewish children and their Muslim friends. The Board of Education voted to appoint Randy Liepa, Ph.D., Interim Superintendent until such time that a new superintendent is hired and begins employment. "In a school of 'No Place for Hate,' antisemitic rhetoric was shared with our students and we recognize its devastating impact. "I said nothing in my presentation to any of the students of Bloomfield Hills High School that in any way could be taken as antisemitic except by those who deliberately want to conflate.". \"Scott Anderson is an institute teacher at Utah Valley Community College in Orem, Utah. "But we can't let that win. I was sad for the students that were there, that heard it, that were hurt," said Rabbi Lopatin. The largest Jewish house of worship in Michigan, Temple Israel, released a statement the next day, saying leaders were "shocked and disappointed" with what they said was "anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric." Jos et halua meidn ja kumppaneidemme kyttvn evsteit ja henkiltietoja nihin listarkoituksiin, napsauta Hylk kaikki. Our district offers a limited number of tuition seats for students in and around Oakland County. She said she is married to a Jewish man. Posted at 11:24 PM, Mar 15, 2023 and last updated 5:20 AM, Mar 16, 2023 BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (WXYZ) Controversy among parents in Bloomfield Hills after a high school diversity. "It seems like the school is injecting itself and creating the environment a little more divisive than it really is, in terms of everyday activities with the kids," said one man. But you put them all in a position that they didnt need to be in, and thats where the problem is.. April 18, 2023 at 5:01 a.m. Officials in the Bloomfield Hills Schools are moving forward with an investigation of a March 14 diversity assembly and a plan to promote healing in the district. one week after controversial remarks made by Palestinian activist Huwaida Araff during a school assembly. She says she learned about the speaker Tuesday morning when she got a text from her son, who was upset about what a speaker was saying during a diversity event. 1. 397 $87.1M 2 A 20 second Google search would have shown a result that this woman should have been disqualified from the beginning, said Sam Dubin, assistant director of the Jewish Community Relations Council/ AJC. An audience member recorded this part where she talked about the Gaza Strip. But over the next few weeks, a storm of controversy erupted as some students, parents and Jewish leaders expressed outrage over her remarks on March 14, criticizing her history of Palestinian activism and accusing her of being anti-Israel and antisemitic. There's really no other side to what this woman is perpetrating. Students A-G. Stream sports and activities from Bloomfield Hills High School in Bloomfield Hills, MI, both live and on demand. Students P-Z, Cathy McDonald, Associate Principal "That creates a chilling effect," Arraf told the Free Press about the school officials leaving. About 150 attended, with some protesting the event, said organizers. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Arraf said she was "sickened" to hear that people are calling for administrators to be fired over their support of a student-led diversity assembly where they didnt shut down a Palestinian sharing her experience. They go to Bloomfield Hills schools. JOhrt@bloomfield.org One man was ushered out by police in a tense, standing-room-only emergency meeting called by the Bloomfield Hills School Board. Some are even being bullied and harassed as a result. The Michigan Department of Education allows students the opportunity to test out of high school courses. WSimms@bloomfield.org, Jessica Lupone, Associate Principal Anti-Israel Hate Spewed by Speaker at Michigan High School and Hate Crimes Rise. "We have a problem with too many people conflating legitimate criticism of a state, the state of Israel which is occupying and oppressing the Palestinian people, which is committing crimes against humanity and these are documented facts," she said. Victor developed a love for journalism after realizing he was a great speaker and writer at an early age. Some Jewish leaders had differing views, praising the departures. This was not that conversation," Dubin said. Lopatin said one mistake made by the school was relying on students to select the speakers without adequate supervision. In the first assembly with the 10th-grade class, Arraf said she shared the story of a former colleague and ISM volunteer Rachel Corrie. Every person deserves the same rights and freedom.". Several alumni and current high school students at the school board meeting, including the diversity assembly planning committee, defended the decision to include Arraf in the assembly and criticized the administration's handling of the situation. Some Arab and Muslim students at the high school feel that the district's reaction to the situation has subjected them to peer-based bullying, according to a letter from the Muslim Unity Center of Bloomfield Hills that was read at the school board meeting. 4200 Andover Road She said she was outraged by the recent antisemitic attack in Royal Oak, which is why she joined with others in the protest Thursday. "I said nothing in my presentation to any of the students of Bloomfield Hills High School that in any way could be taken as antisemitic except by those who deliberately want to conflate.". "Allowing Ms. Araff to spread her vitriol at length on four occasions was unacceptably negligent and it is now the Districts responsibility to prevent similar incidents in the future.". Now parents want to know what the district was thinking and had their say at an emergency school district meeting on Monday. The evening after her talks, the Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee (JCRC/AJC), a local Jewish advocacy group that often is the public voice of the Jewish community in metro Detroit, released a statement blasting Arraf and the district for allowing her to speak. Huwaida Araff is a Palestinian rights activist who gave a controversial speech at the school this week. Polaris High School. Alpine School District, UT,9-12,2 Niche users give it an average review of 4 stars. Are you threatening me, said a man. In Bloomfield Hills Schools, we provide a personal public school experience for every student from pre-kindergarten through high school. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Look around you. Stern says her son and his friends are talking about possibly having a pro-Israel event in response. Stroughter issued a letter of apology, but that was slammed by Jewish leaders as inadequate for failing to mention the specific topics of Israel or Jewish people. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. She said she had been invited earlier this year to speak at Bloomfield High School, along with other speakers representing various diverse groups such as trans, Asian American and Black communities. "And I said, 'you know, I work with Israelis That doesn't negate what is actually happening there nor my experience.' The Israel-Palestine conflict has such complexity "with various sides, perspectives, hundreds of years of suffering, war, and tragedy is not one well-suited to be presented at a diversity assembly and should have been eliminated as a potential topic for discussion.". RabbiAsher Lopatin, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council and the American Jewish Committee, took issue with the fact Bloomfield Hills High School students were required to attend the assembly. Parents are now concerned about tension being created between Jewish and Islamic students. Some points Arraf made to students in attendance included: Israel is the oppressor, and Israel is an apartheid state.". Before school even started, Bloomfield Hills Schools staff took part in multiple professional development and learning activities. Arraf read students an excerpt from an email that Corrie wrote to her mother about the experiences of Palestinian people living in Gaza. Learn more about the new Bloomfield Booster Student Board, view the Summer Sports Schedule, and save the date for the Jock Jams '23 Fundraiser on November 10. Huwaida Arraf, a Macomb Township lawyer and former congressional candidate, said she was invited by student organizers to speak at an assembly at Bloomfield Hills High School because of her career campaigning for Palestinian human rights. After months of public forums, angry calls from parents for school officials to be fired and intense debate among Jewish, Arab and Muslim communities in metro Detroit, the Bloomfield Hills. The Learning Servicesteam works with teachers and principals on the areas of teaching and learning. "It was unfortunate because there are many Palestinian and Arab American let alone Jewish speakers who could have demonstrated the values of shared society, building relationships with those you disagree, and mutual respect. Bloomfield Hills High SchoolOur high school serves grades 9-12 and offers highly . At Independence High School, our smaller size lets us focus on each individual student. "As the adults responsible for the safety, success, and well-being of our entire student body, we have failed in demonstrating how to highlight diversity in a positive way and how to address sensitive topics appropriately. "The principal did speak to me made me aware that we had a lot of families in Bloomfield that had close ties to Israel," Arraf said, recalling the conversation. FOX 2 Detroit is streaming on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, and Google AndroidTV with more apps coming soon! Many Jewish students felt offended and attacked by Arraf's remarks, he said. You have failed myself, and my husband, and both of our parents who fled the USSR because of antisemitism. On Wednesday evening, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, held a Nakba event with a packed crowd that U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-California, had earlier tried to block. "As a Jew, a rabbi, a proud Zionist, also a supporter of Palestinian rights, I asked the school to support all students - Jewish, Muslim Christian, Hindu and others in expressing their beliefs and passions on any issue," said Rabbi Asher Lopatin. Our district offers a limited number of tuition seats for students in and around Oakland County. Boys Varsity Girls Varsity. 248.341.5607 1:51 Bloomfield Hills Schools has issued an apology to students, staff and the community after a local Palestinian American activist and lawyer spoke at a diversity assembly last week, sharing. The board is discussing a plan for healing for Bloomfield Hills High School and says theres no place for hate at the school. 77. Arraf is a longtime advocate for Palestinians, co-founding the International Solidarity Movement and leading the Gaza flotilla protests in 2008 and 2010 that drew widespread attention. Nona Cleary, BHS paraprofessional, agreed. June 14, 2023 at 5:01 a.m. An independent investigation of a Bloomfield Hills High School diversity assembly is critical of administrators' oversight before the event and their handling of. The opportunities are endless for learners in . 1. Arraf then spoke about her time as an activist. One parent had to be escorted out after an outburst at board members and other parents in the crowd. The district released a letter apologizing ahead of an emergency school district meeting that got tense as people shared their thoughts. It has 1,978 students in grades 7-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 24 to 1. Controversy among parents in Bloomfield Hills after a high school diversity event sparked criticism among the Jewish community. And I think that's the intention of it, to silence the Palestinian narrative, and that's dangerous. The email did not specify why Stroughter was on leave, but the news comes as the school is dealing with reactions to a speech given at a diversity assembly. Welcome to Bloomfield Hills High School! Alpert said in a statement. Read more about changes to the Kidz Zone program for middle schools. She did use language that is harmful against the Jewish community., There was only one student who came up to me after and let me know he did not agree with my comments and that he has family in the Israeli military," Arraf said. BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (FOX 2) - A diversity assembly at Bloomfield Hills High School went awry after a speaker was accused of spewing antisemitic rhetoric. Ive been called a Terrorist, a Nazi, and even told to go back to my country, said a woman. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Brandon is the 2015 Solomon Kinloch Humanitarian award recipient for Community Service. "People who speak about Palestinian rights will think twice about it. An audience member recorded this part where she talked about the Gaza Strip. The superintendent of the Bloomfield Hills Schools has issued a second apology for remarks made by a Palestinian activist at a diversity forum at Bloomfield Hills High School.
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