- In light of mounting concerns about bullying and insensitivity towards Muslim students, which have been exacerbated by the unfolding events in the Middle East, Los Angeles schools Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, issued a statement on Tuesday reaffirming the commitment to creating nurturing and inclusive school environments.
- The district faced criticism for statements perceived as one-sides and pro-Israeli, with concerns about anti-Muslim acts in the U.S.
In light of mounting concerns about bullying and insensitivity towards Muslim students, which have been exacerbated by the unfolding events in the Middle East, Los Angeles schools Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho was heavily condemned for his biased statements. In response, he issued a statement on Tuesday declaring his commitment to creating nurturing and inclusive school environments.
Earlier on the same day, Jackie Goldberg, the President of the school board, strongly urged Carvalho to communicate a clear message. This came in response to complaints from Muslim parents during a public meeting, who asserted that the district’s statements were strongly in favour of Israel.
On October 7th, Carvalho took to social media, posting a message that read, “We stand with Israel. We stand in unity with the UN and many other nations in condemning the recent attacks.” The message was accompanied by the Star of David in the colors of the Israeli flag. Initially, the post mentioned the “United States” instead of the “United Nations,” but this was later corrected.
The concerned parents, estimating that approximately 500 district families had connections to the Gaza Strip, believed that this statement made their children susceptible to targeting.
Sumaya Bezrati, a parent, expressed their worries at the Board of Education meeting, stating, “We are very concerned about the safety of our children. We are documenting incidents coming from our LAUSD family, and they continue to pour in.”
Following testimonies from eight other parents, Goldberg directed Carvalho to emphasize that no student should experience harassment based on their ethnicity, religion, race, culture, country of origin, or immigration status. She stressed the need for the statement to be released promptly because the existing message was not effectively reaching the concerned parties, and it should come from the superintendent.
Carvalho’s efforts to find words that adequately conveyed the human toll of the conflict, with its intricate and competing narratives, led him and the nation’s second-largest school district into the realm of backlash. He failed to mention that more than 5,000 have died in the Gaza Strip in a matter of weeks. This was a common experience shared by university presidents, politicians, and CEOs who had issued statements that ignored that plight of the Palestinians.
During the public meeting, Muslim parents who took the podium described classroom discussions as bias and in favour of Israel. They also described instances of harassment.
“These children are starting to show signs of depression as they hear news of family members being killed overseas,” Bezrati said. “Our children need spaces to talk through their feelings and process the trauma they are undergoing.”
Zohreh Shayan shared that her high school son was afraid to express his views during a social studies class where the teacher emphasized solidarity with Israel.
During the initial weeks of escalated events in the Middle East, district officials sent a letter to families meant to provide reassurance to all, although it specifically mentioned only the victimization of Israel. The letter read:
“Los Angeles Unified embraces dignity, humanity, and respect for all cultures, races, and ethnicities. We are committed to all. We stand in solidarity with the United States and many other nations in repudiating the recent attacks in Israel. Our priority, as always, is maintaining a safe and welcoming school environment, and we will take appropriate and immediate action to respond to any and all threats to our learning communities.”
A similar letter was sent to all employees.
Goldberg emphasized that while it’s understandable how families with Palestinian ties could feel when they saw statements seemingly in favour of Israel, the primary focus should be on ensuring the safety and equal treatment of all children, faculty, and school employees, regardless of their backgrounds. She stressed that this should have been the initial message.
Goldberg, who is Jewish, added that her response was not solely based on input at the board meeting; she had been receiving messages of concern from constituents for some time.
As events continued to unfold in the Middle East, there were reports anti-Muslim acts in the United States. And an Islamophobic hate crime resulted in the death of a Muslim boy in Illinois.
During the L.A. board meeting, one Muslim parent suggested that it might be wisest to avoid discussing the situation in the Middle East altogether, but others disagreed.
