The Arab Student Union of Jackson-Reed High School is suing the school’s principal, Sah Brown, and the District Columbia. The student-run organization has accused the school of stifling events planned to address “the ongoing war in Gaza and its effects on the Palestinian people.” By filing the lawsuit, the students are seeking “declaratory and injunctive relief directing the school to stop violating its and its members’ First Amendment rights and their rights under the Equal Access Act and the D.C. Student Bill of Rights.”
The lawsuit highlights two particular incidents in which students say the university interrupted the Arab Student Union’s planned activities. First, the student organization planned to hold a screening of The Occupation of the American Mind from December 14-15, 2024. According to the lawsuit, the film asserts that the “Israeli government has engaged in a successful but misleading public relations campaign in the U.S.” and highlights “how people are attacked for speaking up about Palestine by labeling them as antisemitic or calling them terrorists.”
“Student clubs at Jackson-Reed are routinely allowed to screen films as part of their activities. For example, the French Club has shown French films and the Marvel Monday Club screens and discusses Marvel films on Mondays. There is no special procedure or permission required for a club to show a film at a club meeting,” the lawsuit states.
“On the evening of December 6, 2023, a parent who was present in the school removed one of the posters [promoting the screening] from the wall and complained to the school administration about the showing of the film. In response, Principal Brown cancelled the event and had the posters taken down.”
In January, the Arab Student Union also planned to host a Palestinian Culture Night that sought “to inform and educate their fellow students about the Palestinian people.” The lawsuit claims that the event was approved and scheduled for January 18, 2024, but was subsequently removed from the school’s calendar.
“Failure to plan the event one month in advance was the only reason given for the cancellation of the event,” the lawsuit states.
“In fact, the event had been planned 30 days in advance. There is no requirement that events be planned one month in advance reflected in the staff handbook or any other written materials provided by the school. The ASU’s faculty sponsor had never heard of such a requirement. On information and belief, Defendant Brown personally made the decision to remove the Palestinian Culture Night from the school calendar.”
In addition to the two canceled events, the Arab Student Union also claims that the school rom distributing a one-page zine about Palestinian symbols, offering face paint tattoos and distributing pro-Palestinian stickers.
Representatives for Jackson-Reed High School hav not issued a public statement regarding the matter yet. In the meantime, students are hoping a judge will review the lawsuit quickly to ensure they are able to host the movie screening before the end of the academic year.
