Ontario school board investigating video showing comments staff member made towards student wearing a keffiyeh
A staff member at an Ontario school has been placed on home assignment after video of what the board is calling “harmful and discriminatory” language directed at a student wearing a keffiyeh surfaced online.
The incident, which took place at Iroquois Ridge High School in Oakville, Ont., happened on April 26 in the school’s office.
The video, which was shared by the Muslim Advisory Council of Canada (MACC), appears to show a student wearing a keffiyeh in conversation with the staff member as several students watch the exchange.
The garment is commonly worn by Arabs and Muslims but has also become a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.
“I want you to be careful so you don’t get judged by that,” the staff member is heard saying to the student. “I said that. Did you not hear that?”
“I heard the part where you called me a terrorist,” the student says.
“That’s the only part you heard?” the staff member responds. “I didn’t call you a terrorist. I said it (the keffiyeh) reminds me of…” When the student asks the staff member if his garment reminds her of Hamas, the group Canada has labelled as a terrorist group since 2002, she says “yes.”
The MACC and Halton District School Board (HDSB) both called the incident “harmful and discriminatory” and said the staff member used anti-Palestinian racist language in her comments to the student.
“Reacting promptly, the board placed the educator on administrative leave and has initiated a comprehensive investigation to maintain a safe and supportive educational environment,” MACC said in a statement applauding the board’s actions.
In a statement to CTV News Toronto, the HDSB said: “Iroquois Ridge HS, along with all schools in the Halton District School Board (HDSB), strongly condemns this behaviour and are committed to upholding the Human Rights Code.”
The province’s education minister also weighed in on the video that’s been viewed almost 250,000 times, calling the comments “unacceptable and deeply offensive.”
“We expect education staff to model behaviour and create a learning environment where everyone belongs,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce told CTV News Toronto Monday morning.
“I am glad that Halton District School Board has taken swift action on this matter,” he said.
Keffiyeh ban remains at Queen’s Park
The black-and-white checkered scarf made headlines at Queen’s Park earlier this month after House Speaker Ted Arnott announced a ban on the garment, saying it had become akin to a political statement in recent months.
On Thursday, Arnott asked Independent MPP Sarah Jama to leave the chamber for wearing the keffiyeh. She did not leave, but was “named” for the day, meaning she could not vote on matters before the assembly.
The garment has been around for centuries, if not thousands of years, and has been increasingly seen at pro-Palestinian rallies following the onset of the Israel-Hamas war.
Jama has said she has Palestinian relatives and that wearing the keffiyeh is the least she can do to show solidarity.
"The repression against Palestinians and the anti-Palestinian racism in this place (Queen’s Park) needs to continue to be called out," she said last week, adding that she will continue to continue to wear it.
All four provincial party leaders, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, have called for the ban to be reversed. NDP Leader Marit Stiles has tried twice, but failed, to get unanimous consent to allow the garment in the House. Stiles said Friday she and her party plan to “defy” the ban when lawmakers return after 10-day break next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Judge in Trump's hush money trial threatened to throw witness out of court for behavior on stand
Michael Cohen testified Monday that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from his ex-boss Donald Trump’s company, an admission defence lawyers hope to use to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
McGill says pro-Palestinian protest outside senior administrator's home 'crosses the line'
McGill University has denounced a pro-Palestinian protest held Sunday outside the home of one of its senior administrators.
Judge cites error, will reopen sentencing hearing for man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband
A federal judge will reopen the sentencing hearing for the man who broke into Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home and bludgeoned her husband with a hammer after the judge failed to allow him to speak during his court appearance last week.
Is that 'Her'? OpenAI pauses a ChatGPT voice after some say it sounds like Scarlett Johansson
OpenAI says it plans to halt the use of one of its ChatGPT voices after some users said it sounded like Scarlett Johansson, who famously voiced a fictional, and at the time futuristic, AI assistant in the 2013 film 'Her.'
Microsoft's AI chatbot will 'recall' everything you do on a PC
Microsoft wants laptop users to get so comfortable with its artificial intelligence chatbot that it will remember everything you're doing on your computer and help figure out what you want to do next.
Katy Perry sings goodbye to 'American Idol'
Katy Perry said her goodbyes on 'American Idol' after seven seasons. On Sunday night’s live 'idol' season finale, a medley of Perry's hit songs were performed, including 'Teenage Dream,' 'Dark Horse' and 'California Gurls.'
Red Lobster probes 'endless shrimp' losses after bankruptcy filing
U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.