Wednesday November 29, 2023
Attorney Bruce Nestor said Monday that a complaint had been filed on behalf of two Edina students who were suspended for using a pro-Palestinian slogan. JEFF WHEELER, STAR TRIBUNE
Minneapolis (HOL) - A legal battle has emerged at Edina High School following the suspension of two Somali-American students. The students, participating in a "Walkout for Palestine" in late October, used the chant, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." This phrase, deemed controversial by entities like the pro-Irsael Anti-Defamation League due to perceived antisemitic implications, has been defended by others as a legitimate expression of Palestinian statehood aspirations.
Bruce Nestor, representing the students through the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), filed a federal complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. Nestor contended, " It is an aspirational call for a country within the territory of historic Palestine which is free for all people, Jews, Christians, Muslims, and it is not a call to be antisemitic or target Jews for any type of harm or harassment."
Edina Public Schools released a statement regarding the incident and subsequent legal action: "Edina Public Schools is aware that there has been threatened legal action... The District would like to affirm its unwavering support for students' First Amendment right to free expression... However, students do not have unfettered First Amendment rights while on school property, and students do not have a right under the First Amendment to engage in speech that is substantially disruptive or that violates District policies."
This incident has also highlighted broader concerns about Islamophobia in schools. Jaylani Hussein, executive director of CAIR's local chapter, emphasized community vigilance amid an increase in such incidents: "We're calling for Muslim and Jewish parents to reach out to all of their schools... We believe that there is a great deal of bullying that is happening... And we are deeply concerned about the impact of this bullying."
CAIR seeks not only the reversal of the suspensions but also their removal from the students' records, emphasizing the protection of students' constitutional rights and the need for schools to handle complex socio-political issues sensitively.
The situation at Edina High School is emblematic of the larger national and international discourse on freedom of speech and the intricacies of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Students marched along Valley View Road last month carrying signs expressing support for Palestine. (Alpha News)