Regrettably, Obada, a senior at Aurora’s Grandview High School, has grown accustomed to enduring mockery due to his Palestinian heritage. Despite the hurtful comments, he usually opts to ignore them.
He mentioned that “It has become commonplace. Aladdin references, Osama bin Laden references, and even being associated with terrorism.” He confidently added, “I don’t let it bother me because I am well aware of my qualities as a person.”
However, he claims that following the recent attacks on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent retaliation by the IDF, the situation has further deteriorated, and he is not the sole victim of racist harassment.
Lamar, Lana Darwish, and Lanya Alaswad claim to have encountered it in their respective educational institutions, Cherry Creek High School and Campus Middle School.
Lamar Darwish expressed concerns about the environment he is in, stating, “Teachers and classmates have been labeling us as terrorists, which makes me feel extremely unsafe.”
After the students at both high schools organized a day to show their support for Israel by wearing blue and white, they collectively made the decision to voice their opinions.
Lamar Darwish expressed, “I believe everyone has the right to freely express themselves, just like we do. However, I find it unfair that they have chosen to only support a single perspective.”
In a statement, Superintendent Christopher Smith of Cherry Creek Schools expressed
“We are committed to ensuring that our schools are safe spaces for all students to learn and grow. We support our students in expressing their First Amendment rights. However, we will not tolerate any speech or behavior targeting anyone, especially our Israeli, Palestinian, Jewish, and Muslim community in light of the recent violence. Our strength lies in our diversity, and it’s our collective responsibility to foster safety, value, and support for all students and staff, regardless of their backgrounds and identities.”
The students express that it does not improve their mood.
Lamar Darwish expressed his concern about not being able to concentrate in class and how he believes it will negatively impact his grades.
Obada expressed, “As a Palestinian, my main goal at school is to feel safe and receive an education. However, it becomes extremely challenging when I have to witness the loss of my family’s lives, only to face the insensitivity of others who rub it in my face the very next day.”
Their desire is not to receive preferential treatment or disregard the ongoing events in the Levant; rather, they simply wish to attend school without experiencing any form of harassment.
Obada stated that their purpose was to learn, not to fight.
On Wednesday, Smith, from Cherry Creek Schools, held a meeting with principals to reiterate the district’s dedication to inclusivity for everyone. During the meeting, Smith urged the principals to stay vigilant for instances of student bullying and to promptly address any such incidents.
In addition, mental health resources are being offered to support students who have been impacted by the conflict in Israel.
