A
firestorm of controversy erupted in Ithaca, NY, hometown of Cornell
University and Ithaca College, when it was learned that local
anti-Israel activists brought highly controversial Palestinian activist
Bassem Tamimi to third grade class.
Tamimi is best known for using children, including his own, to confront
Israeli soldiers to create viral video and photo opportunities. He also
is an advocate of children taking part in resistance activities,
including stone throwing. To pro-Palestinian activists, however, he is
a symbol of Israeli repression.
...
Human
rights is a standard topic in 3rd grade social studies but parents and
the Ithaca School Superintendent were surprised to hear that
Palestinian activist Bassem Tamini was a speaker in an Ithaca
elementary school classroom on September 18th. The superintendent says
Tamimi played a video for Beverly J. Martin 3rd graders that referenced
Israelis killing Palestinians and said the 8 and 9 year-olds could help
by becoming freedom fighters for Palestine. In an interview Tuesday
over Facetime, Tamimi stood by his presentation.
“This is what I teach my
son
and my daughter and my children the same age. If I accept it for my
children, I think it will be acceptable for anyone in the world.”…
In a statement, the
superintendent called the presentation inappropriate for 3rd graders
and politically skewed. In an interview, Gold described the
presentation as advocating for peace. She was reminded that Tamimi
acknowledged asking the children to be freedom fighters for Palestine.
“Freedom fighters with
love,”
said Gold. She was then asked if that a tough distinction for children
to make and Gold said “Martin Luther King was a freedom fighter and
children learn about Martin Luther King every day.”
[FULL]