NY high school student sues district for painting over her pro-Palestinian design
text_fields
New York: A school student in New York is suing her school authorities for violating her free speech rights after school officials painted over a watermelon slice she designed, news agency AP reported.
The Half Hollow Hills Central School District is accused of causing emotional trauma to the student after her design, a symbol of support for Palestinians, was painted over in September.
The student, identified as Jane Khan by the pseudonym in the suit, participated in the annual tradition of decorating parking spot with other students at Half Hollow Hills High School West, located on Long Island.
The student, who is described as a Muslim American of Pakistani descent, painted a watermelon slice with ‘a keffiyeh scarf-like pattern’ alongside a phrase ‘Peace Be Upon You’ followed by her name written in Arabic.
The suit pointed out that ‘Ms Khan’s inclusion of the watermelon with a keffiyeh design was an expression of her solidarity with Palestinians — something she feels arises in part from her Muslim identity and Pakistani heritage.’
The watermelon is a symbol of Palestinian solidarity as it has the red, white and green colours of the Palestinian flag, according to the lawsuit adding that Israel has banned the flag in 1967.
Alongside seeking an unspecified money in damages, the lawsuit claimed that her design was removed after the principal ‘interrogated’ and ‘threatened’ in an office meeting having ‘no meaningful dialogue’ with her parents or community members.
The lawsuit made it clear that decorating the parking lot featured different ‘view points in the past’.