The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Wednesday on be
half of a 14-year-old student who said a teacher humiliated her for refusal
o stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in protest of U.S. support of Israel's war in Gaza.
Danielle Khalaf’s teacher told her, “Since you live in this country and
enjoy its freedom, if you don't like it, you should go back to your country,” a
ccording to the lawsuit.
Danielle, whose family
is of Palestinian descent, declined to recite the Pledge over three days in January.
“We can only marvel at the conviction and incredible courage i
t took for her to follow her conscience and her heart,” ACLU attorney Mark Fancher said.
The lawsuit says her t
Eacher admonished her and told her she was being disrespectful.
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As a result, Danielle “suffered extensive emotional and social injuries,
” including nightmares, stress and strained friendships, the lawsuit says.
The ACLU and the Arab American Civil Rights League said Daniell
e’s First Amendment rights were violated, and the lawsuit sought a financial award.
“It was traumatictizi
ng, it hurts and I don't know
w she could do that to other people,” Danielle said at a news conference in February, referring to the teacher’s treatment.
At that time, the school district said it had taken “appropriate action,” though it didn’t elaborate.
“Discrimination in any form is not tolerated by Plymouth-Canton Co
mmunity Schools and is taken very seriously,” the district said.
The school district declined Wednesday to comment further, citing the litigation.
Michigan has more than 300,000 residents of Middle Eastern or North African descent, second in the U.S. behind California, according to the Census Bureau.
