Toronto — Palestinian families, Jewish families, and their allies have come together in a powerful show of solidarity, sending hundreds of letters and completing 35 delegations to the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), over 4 meetings, in favour of supporting Palestinian families within the TDSB.
On Tuesday, June 18, TDSB Trustees on the Program & School Services Committee are set to vote on whether to accept the update on the Combating Hate & Racism Strategy, which, for the first time, explicitly names anti-Palestinian racism. We welcome this addition as a significant step toward acknowledging the unique challenges and discrimination faced by Palestinian students and families and their allies within the school system.
All students, including Palestinian students, have the right to an educational environment free from discrimination and racism. Given the particular human rights abuses faced by Palestinian communities and the lack of recognition of APR leading to its under-reporting, it is imperative to name and combat anti-Palestinian racism as a foundational step toward building a more inclusive and equitable school system.
This is a historic moment for Palestinian students and their families, as their struggles against discrimination are being formally recognized and addressed in the Combating Hate and Racism strategy. It is a key addition needed to ensure full dismantling of systemic racism across our schools. We look forward to collaborating with the TDSB to fight all forms of oppression in our schools, including Anti-Palestinian Racism, antisemitism, Anti-Black racism, Anti-Indigenous racism, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, ableism, and more.
We call upon all members of the TDSB community, including trustees, educators, parents, and students, to support this vital update to the Combating Hate & Racism Strategy. Together, we can ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to learn and thrive in a safe and supportive environment.
Toronto Palestinian Families 