Many residents were dismayed after Lower Merion School Board members allegedly made antisemitic and racist remarks as they grappled with changes to an “equity” policy.
School Board President Kerry Sautner Ed.D. sent community members a letter on Sept. 13 addressing the issue after the Sept. 6 Policy Committee meeting.
“Unfortunately, the conversation took a turn, becoming unhealthy and damaging with antisemitic statements and racist implications,” Sautner said. “This was a painful reminder that LMSD is not immune to the struggles affecting our country and our world. Since that meeting, on social media and in correspondence, we have seen continued insults and harmful behaviors among neighbors. This ongoing pain underscores the need for us all to engage in conversations with greater humility, understanding, and respect.”
At the Policy Committee meeting, board Member Kimberly Garrison said, “I understand Jewish history. There was a time before Jewish people decided to join the group of White people.”
Board Member Abby Rubin interrupted her, saying, “I would ask that you take that statement back. That’s not really true.”
“It is really true because—”
“It isn’t,” Rubin cut in again.
“Ninety-nine percent of people of Jewish ancestry say they are White in the United States. I’m not making this up. You can look this up in the Pew Charitable Trusts,” Garrison asserted.
Audience members began shouting in response.
Rubin had tried to amend the equity policy to be more inclusive.
During public comment, David Caroline said that while he agrees that Blacks have faced a history of discrimination, “I’m astonished if that was a board member speaking saying Jewish people choosing whiteness is an acceptable thing to say in public. And that comment is exactly the point. This policy is political. And it will have the effect of marginalizing individuals and groups.
“It involves making determinations about who is historically privileged and who is not. And I can tell you just read the news, and referring to Jewish people as historically in the privileged community is behind a lot of what you think is right and wrong in the current conflict. But that distinction of saying the Jews are oppressors and others are oppressed…these are things that are playing out in real life…When I hear that Jews came from Europe, that’s not where Jews come from. That’s not who Jews are,” Caroline said.
Another parent, Bryn Mawr resident Esther Schwartz, told the committee she opposes teaching diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the school district.
“It is a racist and failed policy,” she said.
At the Sept. 16 school board meeting, Garrison said she and her family had been harassed on social media because of her remarks at the earlier committee meeting.
“First off, I want to say I am not antisemitic,” said Garrison. “Anna Sharuk and I both made objective statements regarding the Jewish population in the United States. We stated facts from the U.S. government Census and other reports.”
She cited a definition of antisemitism from the University of Pennsylvania that said it is an “expression or manifestation of hatred, violence, or hostility against Jews because they are Jews.”
“Labeling me as antisemitic is not only untrue but also defamatory in this political climate, especially as a Black woman. To call me such is to weaponize the term in order to stop any authentic and constructive dialogue. And to intimidate me to silence.”
Shurak “has not received any such backlash. This is classic anti-blackness and racism in action. It is a campaign of intimidation. I take issue with you policing my tone.” She said Black women are perceived as “overly aggressive” and that she won’t step down. She said she was the victim of a “witch hunt by people who take exception to the truth.”
Citing the Census, she said, “Jewish people have been classified as White in this country. This is a fact. This is not an antisemitic statement…Equity does not mean equality…This policy is meant to protect everyone.”
A few people applauded her, but many who rose to speak to the board were not mollified.
Beth Sandberg of Bala Cynwyd said, “My children may appear White on the surface, yet their father was partially Iraqi. I guess I was naïve to think that in the year 2024, we would be beyond judging people based solely on the color of their skin.”
This past year, when her daughter was a senior, she was president of the Jewish Student Union. The JSU Instagram account “was bombarded with antisemitic threatening messages,” she said. “Many times, I had to fight back tears that a 17-year-old would be the target of such vitriol. I sent messages to (former) Superintendent (Steve) Yanni and Principal (Mike) Johnson regarding this issue…Neither ever responded.” She said the janitor is the sole adult in the school building who has reassured her younger, 13-year-old daughter of her safety. She asked that Garrison and others in the school district should attend training on antisemitism.
Several people spoke in favor of the equity policy, which the Policy Committee had changed at the behest of the district solicitor because of a recent Supreme Court decision.
However, after much back and forth, the board voted in favor of Policy 101 Equity, with the revisions approved by the Policy Committee. All members voted in favor, with Rubin abstaining. It also asked the administration to review the glossary in the policy. The Policy Committee and the Equity and Anti-Racism Committee will continue to discuss the policy and the glossary.
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