In response to concerns about bullying and insensitivity toward Muslim students due to the war between Israel and Hamas, Los Angeles Head of School Alberto Carvalho issued a statement Tuesday affirming campuses as nurturing, inclusive spaces and said the district is ‘committed to providing a safe environment’. learning environment, free from bullying, discrimination and intimidation.”

Earlier in the day, school board President Jackie Goldberg instructed Carvalho to send a strong message afterward

Muslim parents complained at a public meeting that the districts’ statements were unfairly one-sided in their support for Israel, which came under Hamas attack in October. 7. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed, most in the first attack

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More than 5,000 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Israel’s military retaliatory response began, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry and the UN.

On Oct. On September 7, in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas raid, Carvalho posted on social media: “We stand with Israel. We stand in unity with the UN and many other countries in rejecting the recent attacks.” The first sentence was interwoven with the Star of David in the colors of the Israeli flag. The first version of the message said “United States” instead of “United Nations,” but this was withdrawn and revised.

The parents, who estimate that about 500 district families have ties to the Gaza Strip, said the statement made their children targets.

We are very concerned about the safety of our children,” parent Sumaya Bezrati said during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. “We are documenting incidents that come from our LAUSD family and they are pouring in.

After hearing from eight other parents, Goldberg instructed Carvalho to emphasize that “no student should be harassed on the basis of their ethnicity, their religion, their race, their culture, their country of origin, their immigration status, and that we will not tolerate any form of discrimination. .”

The statement needs to go out immediately, she added, “because people aren’t hearing that message from us. And it should be coming from the superintendent.”

Local Jewish families and people with ties to Israel have also experienced deep sadness and anger, and have expressed discomfort with the way others describe and explain the conflict.

Carvalho’s attempt to find words to capture the human toll of the war, with its complexities, passions and competing narratives, has drawn him and the nation’s second-largest school district into the blowback zone, which was also experienced

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university presidents, politicians and CEOs who have made statements that offended one or both parties.

On Oct. On October 12, Carvalho posted a broader message on behalf of the district:

“We condemn human rights violations in every form, in every location. We stand in solidarity with everyone who is a victim of violence, terrorism or oppression. Los Angeles Unified will continue to ensure that schools are a safe space that provides resources and services for everyone in the Los Angeles Unified family affected by current global atrocities in the Middle East, the Republic of Artsakh, and around the world .”

The latest reference concerned the breakaway republic that was recently taken over by Azerbaijan’s armed forces, sparking a humanitarian crisis.

The next day

Carvalho, on October 1. On September 13, 2013, the initiative was taken to reassure school communities, saying: “Our commitment to the safety of our students and school communities remains steadfast. Schools are and will remain safe havens for all.”

And later that same day: “Our hearts ache, our spirits are bruised, our spirits are angry at the unimaginable loss of life and for those affected by the recent events in the Middle East and around the world, especially the children who get caught in the crossfire. An unacceptable “Travesty for the most innocent in this or any conflict.”

As Muslim parents took the public stage Tuesday, they described classroom discussions they saw as one-sided and episodes of intimidation.

“These children begin to show signs of depression when they hear news about relatives killed abroad,” Bezrati said. ‘Our children need space to talk about their feelings and process the trauma they are experiencing

.”

Zohreh Shayan said her son had been afraid to express his opinion in high school during a social studies class in which the teacher emphasized solidarity with Israel.

Another speaker, Shahina Khan, said her niece became upset when a high school teacher called Hamas an Islamic terrorist group. She objected to linking religious beliefs to violence: “No one describes the KKK as an extreme Christian organization, Khan said.

Early in the conflict, district officials sent a letter to families intended to reassure everyone, although it specifically mentioned only Israel’s victimization:

“Los Angeles Unified embraces dignity, humanity and respect for all cultures, races and ethnicities,” the letter said. “We are committed to everyone. We stand in solidarity with the United States and many other countries in rejecting the recent attacks in Israel. Our priority, as always, is to maintain a safe and welcoming school environment, and we will take appropriate and immediate action. to respond to all threats to our learning communities.”

The letter included advice and resources on how to deal with controversial current events and how to deal with children’s fears. A similar letter went to all employees.

Goldberg said the district’s good intentions could be misunderstood.

“If you see anything about being pro-Israel, you can absolutely understand how these families with Palestinian ties might feel,” Goldberg said. “I am not suggesting that we take a position on anything other than that all children, teachers and all school employees should be safe and treated without discrimination based on who they are. That should have happened because of the events in the Middle East. was the first thing that went out.”

Goldberg, who is Jewish, added that her response was not based solely on input at the board meeting. She has been receiving concerned messages from voters for some time.

As events unfold in the Middle East, there are reports of both anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim acts in the United States. A Muslim boy was killed in an alleged hate crime in Illinois.

At the board meeting in LA, one Muslim parent suggested it would be wisest not to discuss the conflict at all, but others disagreed.

In his latest communication, Carvalho said that “as we mourn the loss of life and feel the pain and suffering caused by the increasing number of global conflicts, it is essential to remember the crucial role we all play for our students: guiding them in effectively manage the stressors they may feel, especially those who share ties with directly affected communities.”

“Psychiatric social workers, counselors and others are available to listen to students’ concerns and connect them with the resources they need,” he added.

In a recent interview, Carvalho noted that police patrols around schools have been increased to ensure physical security, especially at schools that are more likely to be targeted, including schools near religious institutions that could also be targets.