Hamilton high school students protest censorship when discussing Gaza
In another attempt to demand action over the war in Gaza, high school students in Hamilton marched to the doors of the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) to protest on Friday.
This is the second time in months, where Palestinian supporters are claiming that they’re being censored in the classrooms, and want the board to call for a ceasefire.
Dozens of students from multiple Hamilton high schools are claiming Palestinian support is being censored inside the classrooms and hallways.
“I stand here today as a voice who they (school board) have tried to silence,” said a protest organizer. “I stand here today in front of a school board that says it accepts free speech.”
At the head office of the HWDSB protestors chanted with signs, waved flags, and wrote messages in chalk on the property, wanting the public school board to accept demands of a ceasefire in Gaza, allow free speech and address discrimination.
The demonstration included numerous speakers from high schools including Sir Allan MacNab, Westmount and Saltfleet.
“How can we tell Palestinian students their country’s name is not welcomed in schools” said an organizer of the protest, “how can we tell Palestinian students we cannot fundraise for a humanitarian cause?”
Some protest organizers and other protestors declined to speak with CHCH News regarding the details of their concerns.
The HWDSB sent a letter to families about the protest and told CHCH News, the activity was not school-board-sanctioned.
“We deeply empathize with those who may be impacted because of these current world events and understand the desire HWDSB students have to share their experiences and perspectives,” the board wrote in the letter.
The letter sent to families by Hamilton’s public school board also said it is listening to the concerns of students and takes their input to improve as a board.
The school board didn’t give details on what kind of student input will be considered for improvements.
Today marked another major walkout by some of the same students, who took part in a demonstration outside of schools including Westmount last November.
CHCH News reached out to Education Minister Stephen Lecce about school walkouts and has yet to hear back.
