6/4/2024
PLEASE COPY THE FOLLOWING LETTER, EDIT IT AS YOU SEE FIT, SIGN YOUR NAME, AND EMAIL TO: Robert_Motley@hcpss.org, boe@hcpss.org, Bill_Barnes@hcpss.org, clara.longo@thebaltimorebanner.com
Dear River Hill High School Principal Robert Motley, Members of the Howard County Board of Education, Superintendent Barnes, and Baltimore Banner reporter Clara Longo de Freitas,
Having read the letter from the ACLU in support of antisemitic walkouts, words cannot begin to express my gratitude to the River Hill High School administrators for doing what is right!
Thank you for recognizing the hate these walkouts foster. Thank you for not allowing students to intimidate, bully, or harrass Jewish and Israeli-American students. Thank you for not allowing students to use false, ignorant, and hateful rhetoric such as “apartheid,” “siege,” and “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.”
RHHS’s administrators have set a precedent for doing what is right, and it is my hope that other Howard County schools will follow their example. I encourage HCPSS administrations to review HCPSS policy 9020 III.D.1., which simply and clearly refutes all of the ACLU’s arguments with the statement, “The First Amendment rights of students are subject to restrictions based on the unique circumstances of the school environment. Certain types of speech and behavior are considered so disruptive that they may be prohibited outright….”
I request Superintendent Barnes release a statement ensuring Jewish and Israeli-American students can attend school with the knowledge they will be protected from antisemitic bullying, harassment, intimidation and bias.
In order to guarantee the HCPSS ODEI properly responds to future incidents of antisemitism, I ask that the Board of Education follow the US House of Representatives lead by passing legislation enshrining the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as official HCPSS policy.
Thank you to the RHHS administrators for being the first administrative team to take a stand against antisemitism! You have my utmost respect and gratitude. I look forward to seeing the rest of the HCPSS’ administrators and the Board of Education follow your lead, and take a similar stand against antisemitism in our schools.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXXXXXXXX