The Philadelphia office reported that it documented several harassment incidents against students, and employees in the corporate and public sectors. MJ, a 17-year-old high schooler in the Philadelphia School District, said he has been extra cautious at train stations and public places.
“As a Palestinian American living in America right now, I assure you we do not feel safe,” he said. “I’ve had slurs thrown my way this all week. I’ve been called terrorist.
I’ve been called baby killer. I’ve been called rapist. I’ve been called antisemitic all by grown men, various grown men and women throughout the city just on my way to school or at these protests or going back home or anything of the such.”
MJ said he feels the post 9/11 dogma, which he had only ever heard about, is starting to re-emerge.
At CAIR New Jersey, officials are working with five Rowan University students who are facing academic review following posts they’ve made about the conflict.
“This all has a muzzling effect,” said Dina Sayedahmed, communications manager for CAIR New Jersey. “It prevents Palestinian students from sharing their stories and the realities of Israel’s war on Gaza and instead succumbs us to one mainstream narrative that is often inaccurate.”
The organization is working with high school students in Cherry Hill who spoke up to support human rights in Palestine and received immediate backlash from classmates and some parents.
“These parents circulated minor students’ photos online and community forums, Facebook, and other places, opening them up to harassment across the township,” Selaedin Maksut, CAIR New Jersey executive director, said.
Maksut said one of the students had her hijab ripped off and that a teacher in her classroom…
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