Royal West Student Suspended for Posting “F*ck Israel” on Instagram
An honour student at the high school was told that a classmate complained about a story she posted on her private Instagram account.
Like a lot of teenagers, Dawn*’s exposure to the Israel-Palestine conflict began with the horrific images of Oct. 7.
Unsure how to make sense of the violence, she poured herself into history books, studying the creation of the state of Israel, the origins of Zionism and the emergence of illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Almost immediately, she saw parallels between the plight of the Palestinians and her own identity as a Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) — a People whose land base, language and existence in North America continues to be threatened by colonialism.
“I think about it all the time,” said Dawn, 17, who did not want her real name published for fear of jeopardizing college applications. “The version of history we’re taught in school, even when it’s sugarcoated, is pretty consistent on these points: the Europeans came, forced us off our land, killed us and put us in residential schools. All because they claim this land is rightfully theirs. That’s exactly what’s going on in Israel.
“Yes, Israel has a historic claim to the land, but if you’re not in that land for 2,000 years, you can’t just come back and start brutalizing the people who have called this place home. So, to me, it feels incredibly personal.”
In mid-October of this year, after days of repeated ceasefire violations left over 100 Palestinian civilians dead, Dawn snapped. The high school senior posted a story on her private Instagram account with the caption “Fuck Israel. Holy shit.”
Two weeks later, she was hauled into the vice principal’s office at Royal West Academy and suspended.
“I was told that another student saw my post and that it made them feel uncomfortable,” Dawn said, in a telephone interview with The Rover. “(The vice principal) said it wasn’t my criticism of Israel that bothered them. It was the language I used.”
Dawn’s punishment was to serve a one-day in-school suspension on Friday, while the other students enjoyed a day off. After her parents reassured her of their support, Dawn decided she wouldn’t serve the suspension.
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“When we told the school, they said that if (Dawn) refuses, she won’t be allowed into class Monday,” her mother said. “This is an honour student who is active in extracurricular activities being punished for taking a stand. It’s unacceptable that she should be reprimanded for something that happened off-campus, that wasn’t directed at any other student, and that’s a response to genocide.”
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for the English Montreal School Board said the punishment is mild and meant to discourage students from making their classmates feel unsafe.
“When there is any type of situation like this, whether it’s someone verbally harassing someone in the hallway, or someone posting something on social media, and a student goes to the principal and makes a complaint, the principal is going to react,” said Mike Cohen, spokesperson for the EMSB.
Cohen spoke about provincial guidelines that allowed the principal to intervene in cases where a “demonstration of verbal, written, physical, psychological or sexual force which causes distress” to another student.
“This was something that the other students felt very uncomfortable about,” said Cohen. “The person used an expletive. A very bad word. So the principal decided, with the policy right in front of him, that the student would be suspended.”
One legal expert said the EMSB’s actions in this case are a clear violation of Dawn’s civil rights.
“It is a complete affront to our right of freedom of expression. You’re punishing someone for swearing about a country that’s, according to the United Nations, committing genocide,” said Geneviève Grey, a human rights lawyer based in Montreal. “This isn’t directed at any other students. It’s swearing, yes, but swearing is her right under the Charter.
“We’ve seen cases like this spring up across Canada, where someone uses strong language to condemn the state of Israel, and then there’s a campaign to have them reprimanded for their free speech.”
Speaking against Israel’s actions in Gaza has come with a steep price since Oct. 7. People have lost jobs, while medical and law students have been flagged by hiring committees simply for expressing Palestinian solidarity or attending a protest. Meanwhile, journalists reporting critically on Israel have been the victims of harassment campaigns organized by lobby groups like HonestReporting Canada. After being singled out by the group, some reporters received a deluge of death and rape threats online.
Grey, who is Jewish, says she’s alarmed by the rise of anti-semitism in Canada and abroad, but doesn’t think this crackdown against Palestinian activists is helpful.
“When we take seriously claims that are clearly not rooted in anti-semitism, but in pettiness, this fuels the anti-semitic lobby and fuels their rage,” she said. “You have to take this seriously. You can’t just say everything that criticizes the government of Israel is anti-semitic. It’s not true, repeating it doesn’t make it true, and it hurts Jewish people.”
Dawn says the student body at Royal West is almost evenly split between those who support Israel and those against the country’s actions. She showed The Rover a series of posts by her classmates equating criticism of Israel with support for terrorism, one from US President Donald Trump writing there will be “HELL TO PAY” in the Middle East after he assumes office, and other aggressively anti-Palestinian content.
None of these students were punished by Royal West. But Cohen notes that the school cannot intervene unless it’s notified about a post. The Rover emailed the school’s vice principal to ask if these situations had arisen, but we were redirected to Cohen.
Since news of her suspension, Dawn’s friends have rallied behind her, circulating a petition to lift her punishment and highlighting her contributions to academic and social life at Royal West. Dawn volunteers with special needs students, she’s part of the school’s band, and she’s an honour roll student.
So far, over 600 people have signed. Dawn’s mother hasn’t ruled out legal action and will be filing a formal complaint with the EMSB.
“We are proud of our daughter,” Dawn’s mom said. “We raised her to be curious, to be helpful to others and to stand up for her beliefs. We’re not going to take this lying down.”
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Private instagram account? Sounds like an oxymoron. I didnt read any further after this i can understand where this going…
I see a lot of people taking advantage of this minor incident to recirculate lies and false narrative. There is definitely no parallel between the story of the North American indigenous peoples and the true history of the Israeli-Arab conflict. If anything, the indigenous people of the Holy Land who have repeatedly been forced off their land, are the Jews. That’s not to say there isn’t room for Arabs who have developed ties to the same geographical area over a few generations to have their own place and live in peace next to the democratic and diverse state of Israel.
Maybe use that one-day suspension to read up a little, “Dawn”.
To paraphrase: “Jews were here thousands of years ago, therefore a Canadian today has no right to criticize Israel’s actions today”.
“If you knew history, you would know that our behaviour is totally justified”.
Did I get that right?
To paraphrase: “Jews were here thousands of years ago, therefore a Canadian today has no right to criticize Israel’s actions today”.
“If you knew history, you would know that our behaviour is totally justified”.
Did I get that right?
You are wrong. What you call the “people of Israel”, really the Zionists, are white Jews from Eastern Europe, with no genetical ties to the region. The Palestinians are the original inhabitants of the Levant, direct descendants of the true People of Israel of 2000 years ago. They simply changed their religion to match the one of the Ottoman Empire, their peaceful rulers for hundreds and hundreds of years.
Zionists have been trying to rewrite history for close to 150 years. Because they are racist white ethno-centric (eastern europe) religious fascists. They don’t even really care about the religion actually. It’s just an excuse. Their own Bible says God expulsed the tribes and scattered then because they literally fought against God.
So quit lying with your ready made bs. Read history, learn about recent genetical studies of population, made by Israeli geneticists, read the Torah, the Babylonian Talmud. Watch the news with daily images of Zionists killing unarmed kids, flattening and destroying the Gaza strip, stealing land in the West Bank. And believe your own eyes. Just like millions are doing right now, like this kid Dawn.
Either you are a bandwagoner hater or a mussie employee / operative. Either way your anti western tendencies are boring and predictable. Even with all your evidence and references think of the following:
The esteemed Jewish state in middleeast is less than 1 pct landmass and 1 pct of population . Only true democratic country in all directions. Ask your gay woke friends what mideast countries they can wave their rainbow flags in 2 days in a row. Or ask your arab handlers where they live happier in israel ir sll the rest mideast. And why would arabs live under Jews anyhow? ( entitled to all the land? . )
Conversely refer to caliphate for islam terror takeover resposes. They will lose till end if days as they always have and always will, G-d willing
Fine, ignore free speech rights and keep the suspension but now also apply it to all students who post on social media equating critique of Israel with terrorism.
Surely “If you believe X, you are a terrorist” (and all that implies) is far more threatening than “F country Y”.
My comments criticizing this article and the video reportage delivered by Christopher Curtis were deleted and my account blocked from seeing the post on Instagram. No violence. No hatred. Just criticism covered by free speech. The free speech knife seems to cut both ways.
Thank you for covering the full story.
1) All speech is a protected right
2) Critique of Israel IS NOT anti-Semitism
3) As a 3rd generation Jewish Montreal I stand by all my statements
4) This student did their homework, analyzed the information and had an opinion to express ON THEIR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA – that is their right
5) The language was one of outrage in response to Genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid
6) As an student who is indigenous, their perspective is uniquely qualified and informed.
SHAME ON THE EMSB!
4)
Shame on you. No care for schoolkids at the school. Wokeness reaches new low again.
If this overt behaviour is repeatedly found generally offensive why is sanctioning and consequences out of line?
Sad state. You are a part if it.
Overt behaviour lol Jay you are out to lunch. None of what you wrote applies or makes sense. It was one complaint. It was on a private, not public page. Wokeness-I really have no idea what you’re trying to argue there. Take a lap kid, soak your head
It seems to me that the student (Dawn?) Has every right to voice her opinion, just as others have the right to tell her to fuck right off and to call out the incredible ignorance of those equating casualties of war with genocide. After thousands of years of enduring richness, there are virtually no jews remaining in Syria, Iraq, Yemen; Christians who not long ago made up 10% of the Syria population now represent at most 2% of that population. Those are examples of genocide. If Israel wanted to stamp out the Arabs of Gaza or Judea and Samaria…those Arab populations would no longer exist. Instead they experience growth. So tired of mental midgets approaching important questions with open mouths. If the Islamists could rid the world of jews (never going to happen), they’d be coming next for the rest of you. Wake up and fuck off!
Dear Leon,
You can call it war or genocide or whatever you need to feel better about your opinion of it (and you may be correct), but it saddens me when an obviously intelligent person like yourself will claim there is “growth” in Gaza. Why even say this?
And you sidestepped the argument: she wasn’t free to say what she said. She was punished for it while others were not.
Fuck right off Leon
Nice pilpul Garfinkle
My youngest daughter was being bullied at school so my older daughter came to her defense as I would expect. My oldest took a photo of the apartment building the bully lived in and sent it to them. basically intimidating the student, She had no intention of physical harm to the bully. However she sent it from the French Catholic School Boards wifi IP address to this other kids cell phone which was connected to the Public School Boards wifi and was immediately suspended for inappropriate use of school technology I didn’t take any action as I’ve also tried to teach them that 2 wrongs don’t equal a right. I’ve let them express themselves but did explain that every action has an equal or greater reaction.
I’ve unfortunately had to teach my girls to speak up, speak out, be assertive and stick to your creed. No wishy washy but if you make a mistake apologize, it’s that simple.
I wonder if anyone bothered to look if they could find statements by EMSB school commissioner Paula Samuel that are equally, if not worse, statements against Palestinian demonstrations or Palestinians that make those people “feel unsafe”.
The EMSB commissioners are a nest of politically motivated hacks that are using their position as a stepping stone in politics. Few of them seem know much about the needs of children. Remember when Joe Ortona ran for Denis Coderre’s party shortly after becoming commissioner of the EMSB? Such commitment to kids!
As an anglophone, I am sensitive to my community’s constitutional rights, but I think we would be much better off with a government appointed service center rather than the EMSB. I can’t speak for the other Anglo school boards, but if they are anything like the EMSB, then let’s abolish them.
FUCK OFF DAWN
Put your money where your mouth is, walk your talk. You’re concerned about possible loss of scholarships and acceptance in post secondary institutions due to a personal IG post off school property and not on the school boards wifi.? The majority of the free world agrees with your post and are defending your 1 day suspension from high school. It might actually work in your favor, an ally publicly supporting the Palestinians. Elbows up, stand your ground, say it loud and proud. Your “real name” is all over the internet so there’s no hiding.
My question is how much proper research could you have done in 2 -3 weeks? As stated this has been an on=going civil religious war for 2000 years, Canadians are still discovering the truth about Residential School but most survivors are deceased along with the history and facts. I have been learning about it for 20 years and just learned as I stumbled upon a cemetery in the woods in Sault Ste Marie that it was Chief Shingwauk who snowshoed to Toronto and requested those institutions known as Residential school to be built so his people could learn to survive in the New World. I was floored!!!
Take your licks like the warrior you are, just as your relatives did during the Oka Crisis.
Premier Legault has publicly stated that using the middle finger is a form of freedom of expression so I highly doubt the school board will win this battle. F.U.C.K. was an offence way back when but it stands for unlawful carnal knowledge. As a Scottish?Irish settler in Canada who has no idea how, why, when my ancestors were forced off their fertile lands , starved and shipped off to several different destinations where we lost our knowledge of language, cultural beliefs and ceremonies, I completely sympathize. I want the Canadian government to ship me back to wherever my ancestors came from. My spirit longs for my homeland and it’s people, I can’t wait to get the fuck off of Turtle Island.
Good riddance!
Hi,
I think maybe the student that ‘allegedly’ complained needs to get some therapy. Israel is committing physical and cultural genocide on the Palestinian people. This is not an opinion, it’s a fact.
Being anti-Zionist doesn’t make us anti semetic and being Canadian means living in a society where we are all entitled to our opinons.
Can we sign the petition online somewhere?
Wow Janet way to express your opinion! In my opinion you’re the individual who should seek sensitivity training around trauma victims regardless of the “side” they’ve been forced to be on. Similar to the growing mixed race of Indigenous people who are being brain washed to hate on their own white relatives, I bet the same situation exists in Israel.
My children are mixed Scottish/Irish/First Nation but resemble their Indigenous ancestors while their DNA is predominantly Caucasian. I am mixed Scottish/Irish only while the Native Father has 14 different cultural backgrounds but looks like a pure blood.
I suppose my people have healed or the history of the genocide and deportation committed by the good old Brits has almost been forgotten after 300 years.
I think that the Truth and Reconciliation report and its calls to action should be the foundation of teaching/learning for everyone in Canada.
One Love
Most Indigenous DO NOT consider themselves Canadian, Mohawk territory covers three different post colonial parcels of land. Ontario, Quebec, and New York State are where their reserves are located which is considered Turtle Island, not Canada, no borders. They also have their own passports, not Canadian or US passports. Sovereign Nation.
Hi Tracy, perhaps you should not bet on what’s happening in israel when you, in fact, clearly know less than nothing about the current situation or its history. You mention in a previous comment that it’s been an “on=going civil religious war for 2000 years” and I would like to inform you that this is blatantly wrong, coming from someone who’s family has lived there for as long as anyone remembers. As recently as 100 years ago all religions lived in relative harmony in Palestine. It wasn’t until the British started supporting political Zionism (a self described colonial ideology) that Jews from Europe were able to ethnically cleanse and settle the land that they then turned into the modern state of israel. Whether you take my word for it or not is unimportant, you can learn this yourself through history books. I would caution you to avoid commenting on this situation again until you’ve read at least 2-3 reputable books about the political situation & history of Palestine/israel. Ilan Pappé’s book “Ten Myths about Israel” is a great place to start.
I’d like to access the petition and send it around. Can you send it? Thanks!
You cannot not silence words of justice for and anti genocide of the Palestinian people by the US backed colonial settlement of Israel in Palestine … especially by an indigenous teen student who knows and whose people were victims of genocide & the most cruel practices by the white colonialists of the time Britain, like the liquor, the infected blankets, 60s scoop and residential schools.. to name only a few. They continue to struggle today to regain their identity & their culture.
Justice speaks loud & will continue to do so until it is rendered.
As a RWA mom of 3 alumni I’m ashamed of RWA Admin. They taught kids to be smart, fair, respectful & to think for themselves. RWA must revoke at once its undemocratic anti charter decision to suspend Dawn.
Where’s the petition ? I’d like to read it pls.
Send link pls.
She needs to sue the EMSB. Given how much the CAQ hate the EMSB, they may even be willing to help her.
To those responsible for her suspension: apologize, lift the suspension, then go to a classroom and write on the blackboard 100 times: “I promise to read the Charter”
Wondering where we can access the petition? It’s completely unfair what happened to her. Can you please the petition link so I can circulate in my networks?