11/25/2024
Public Comment - 11.08.2023
Tonight, I will be speaking on Agenda Item 5.3 Deliberation related to the requirements for security personnel on District campuses pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.076 to consider the deployment, or specific occasions for implementation, of security personnel or devices or to deliberate a security audit.
Are the Jewish students and teachers of Plano ISD safer today compared to just one month ago? The answer is a resounding no. We need not look at the college campuses or urban city centers across the globe to cite the exponential rise in antisemitism. No, we only need to look at our own Plano ISD High School and Senior High campuses. On October 19th, just 12 days after the largest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust, McMillen High School leadership announced over the PA system that it was time for the pre-planned and school administration-approved walkout in support of Palestine and Gaza. Students soon gathered at the E hall exit near the bus pick up and drop off location. As the crowd grew, the chants began. If you close your eyes and listen to their chants of “From the River to the sea, Palestine will be free”, the last place you would picture yourself is at a Public High School in America. As the genocidal chant goes, from the River, the Jordan River, to the Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, Palestine will be free, as in, all the Jews will be “dealt with”, or at least that’s how the McMillen MSA would put it.
Plano ISD Leadership would have you believe this was just a peaceful rally. They will tell you this walkout was conducted according to Board Policy and administrative regulation. If it was just a peaceful rally, and they complied with all policy and regulation, why did Plano ISD leadership ask for five additional police officers to be present at McMillen High School during the walkout?
Plano ISD leadership loves to talk about DEI, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. They say they want everyone to feel a sense of belonging. How is a Jewish student supposed to feel when this is tolerated on campus and done with the expressed permission of campus administration. Plano ISD has facilitated Jew hatred, antisemitism, and hate speech on its campuses and made this district and our community less safe for Jews by allowing these walkouts which excused students from instructional time to have a pro-genocide rally.
To date, no action has been taken against the McMillen High School MSA. Plano ISD leadership must be held accountable for not intervening or taking action when students act in a threatening or intimidating manner. You have set a dangerous precedent in this district by allowing this behavior to go on without recourse. You have sent a clear message to the Jews of this district and we hear you loud and clear. Now what are you going to do to fix this?
My Public Comments:Tonight I will be speaking on Agenda Item 5.3 Deliberation related to the requirements for security personnel on District campuses pursuan...
