A group of teachers within the New York City public school system reportedly encouraged hundreds of students to stage a walkout in protest of Israel last Friday.
The event, organized by several groups including Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), Palestine Youth Movement, Teachers Unite, NYC Educators for Palestine, Al-Awda New York, and Movement for More, was aimed at demonstrating against what they characterized as “Israel’s genocide of Palestinian people,” according to a report by Fox News.
The walkout was scheduled for Friday afternoon, and the organizations advised students to leave their classrooms and march to the Department of Education headquarters. Teachers Unite NYC shared a post on Instagram that stated, “High schoolers have spoken: they want a free Palestine from the river to the sea.”
In preparation for the walkout, the organizing groups provided students with a “toolkit” outlining the plan and emphasizing their right to protest. The toolkit stated, “On Friday, May 31, high school students across New York City will walk out of school to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza & an end to US support for Israel’s genocide of Palestinian people.”
The toolkit included several recommendations for students, such as assessing their school climate and neighborhood, ensuring everyone knows their rights as student protestors, and being aware that they could still face disciplinary action for leaving school without permission. It also advised educators that schools cannot prevent students from participating in walkouts and suggested canceling tests or major deadlines to accommodate those wanting to join the protest.
In response to the planned walkout, New York City Department of Education Chancellor David Banks discouraged the actions carried out by these students.
“I’m a big believer in student voices and kids standing up for the things that they believe in… I don’t think you need to have continued walkouts to do that,” Banks said.
