Toronto — Toronto Palestinian Families call on the Board of Trustees at the TDSB to vote to support the Combating Hate and Racism strategy today. We thank the Program and School Services Committee for accepting the Combating Hate and Racism strategy with the milestone addition of anti-Palestinian racism.
Watching the Committee meeting yesterday was a painful experience for members and allies of our community and is a reminder of the racism many of our children and families have faced. Some trustees have falsely implied that affirming the identity of Palestinian students would result in a rise in antisemitism. This is an open display of anti-Palestinian Racism and underscores the urgency of having a strategy to combat it.
The Committee’s vote which did not succumb to the hateful rhetoric is a significant step toward acknowledging the unique challenges and discrimination faced by Palestinian students and families and their allies within the school system and making all children feel safe.
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.
With a clear mandate from the TDSB, all trustees, educators, parents, and students, can, with the support of the Combating Hate & Racism Strategy, ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to learn and thrive in a safe and supportive environment.
This is a historic moment for Palestinian students and their families, as their struggles against discrimination are potentially 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.
Toronto Palestinian Families 