It started with a letter from the Superintendent of the Teaneck faculty district, André D. Spencer, to the dad and mom and college students, characterizing Hamas’ October seventh assault not as terrorism, and even as one thing dangerous perpetrated by Hamas, however as “the most recent incidents within the cycle of violence within the Center East.” On the subsequent Board of Training assembly, Jewish dad and mom stood to handle this failing. Board Vice President Victoria Fisher was having none of it.
The Board, nevertheless, repeatedly reduce off commenters who described Hamas’s actions to
underscore why they thought Superintendent Spencer ought to have issued a stronger assertion condemning the assault:…
One other commenter, Keith Kaplan, known as on the district to revise its assertion and condemn Hamas. “That is the week to speak concerning the savagery, the inhumanity that was perpetrated by a terrorist group on harmless civilians who have been butchered, who have been raped, who have been mutilated, who have been beheaded, and worse,” Kaplan mentioned earlier than Vice President Fisher reduce him off for not following the “floor guidelines.” Kaplan continued, “Think about for a second these heinous acts have been dedicated by any group in every other place. Raping, butchering, beheading, setting aflame some thousand folks.” President Rodriguez interrupted once more, however Kaplan went on, “Think about any politician wherever responding to these acts, these outrageous crimes, calling them incidents in a cycle of violence. You’re noncommittal. It begs the query as as to if our colleges function in a value-free zone — a value-free zone the place torture and rape are relative.” President Rodriguez informed Kaplan, “You should cease now,” and the Board reduce his mic and had him faraway from the lectern. Moments later, Vice President Fisher says, “Hold your politics out of it.
If that identify sounds acquainted, it’s as a result of Keith is a daily right here. Keith was silenced after he refused to go gently into the night time.
Keith Kaplan being disruptive.
The board, nevertheless, wasn’t glad and had its attorneys ship Keith a stop and desist letter, arguing that the board’s silencing Keith wasn’t due to his content material, however how he “comported himself,” and ending in the perfect of lawyerly admonitions, “please be guided accordingly.” Keith known as FIRE, and FIRE known as bullshit.
The FIRE letter not solely condemned the board’s flagrant violation of the First Modification, and debunked its attorneys try to spin the board’s flagrant anti-Israel and pro-Hamas management of audio system, however even graciously provided to come back to Teaneck and clarify to the board utilizing small phrases how the First Modification works so it could possibly.
FIRE due to this fact calls on the Teaneck Board of Training to carry its public remark insurance policies in
line with the First Modification, and to make sure constituents are free to remark at Board
conferences with out going through unconstitutional censorship. FIRE can be happy to work with the
Board to make sure its insurance policies and practices meet these standards.
Okay, they by no means promised to solely use “small phrases.” That was my editorial contribution. So sue me. Keith, being perpetually diligent, wished to make certain that the FIRE letter reached faculty board vp Victoria Fisher, so he texted her.
Neither the Teaneck Board of Training nor their attorneys on the Weiner Legislation Group have responded to FIRE’s letter, however main indicators counsel that this will likely not go as easily as hoped.
