PLYMOUTH, Mich. (WXYZ) – A Michigan middle school student claims she was racially discriminated against after choosing to remain seated for the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Arab-American Civil Rights League says the teacher told the 14-year-old that since she lives in the U.S. and enjoys its freedom, she should go back to her country if she didn’t like it here.
“I was sobbing and I ran out of the room crying,” Danielle Khalaf said.
The eighth grade student said it was a moment with her teacher at East Middle School in Plymouth that has made it an anxious experience for her.
She says it started Jan. 10, when the Pledge of Allegiance started playing over school speakers.
“I decided I wanted to sit down because I didn’t feel comfortable standing, because of what’s happening in Palestine,” Danielle described. “After the pledge was over, the teacher addressed the class and said that anyone that was sitting down was being very disrespectful.”
Danielle says after class, she went to the teacher to explain why she was sitting, but she says the teacher spoke over her continuously.
“Since I enjoy the freedoms of the country, and that I live here, I should either stand or go back to my country,” the teen said the teacher ultimately told her.
Crying, Danielle says she then left the classroom and went to the counselor’s office.
Her father, Jacob Khalaf, said they’ve since learned that the teacher admitted to the statement.
“Their only solution was to put my daughter in a different class,” Jacob Khalaf said.
Plymouth Canton Community Schools issued a response, saying the district has been aware of the incident, an investigation was conducted and appropriate action was taken.
The district wrote that since this is a personal matter, they can’t share specifics regarding the employee who was involved, but school officials facilitated restorative practices between the teacher and students.
“Based on what Danielle is letting us know is that the administration had restorative practice in the classroom with the teacher and the other students, but the only student who was not in the classroom was Danielle herself,” Mariam Charara, executive director of the Arab-American Civil Rights League, said.
The Arab-American Civil Rights League held a press conference to address Danielle’s story.
The group also sent a letter to the district demanding the school take action, claiming the school has not done that.
According to the Arab-American Civil Rights League, this is a direct violation of Danielle’s First Amendment rights and they’ve filed a formal complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights.
“I think the teacher needs to be removed,” Jacob Khalaf said.
The Arab-American Civil Rights League says if the school does not take what they consider to be the proper actions, they will file a lawsuit.
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