Judges Blast City Over Principal's Removal

Two members of a three-judge federal appellate court panel took the city to task yesterday for removing the principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy. Debbie Almontaser, who helped found the dual-language school with an emphasis on Arab culture, stepped down before the school opened last fall, after controversy over remarks she made in the NY Post.

Last summer, Almontaser had commented on t-shirts with "intifada" printed on them, made by a youth group she shared office space with. At the time, she said, "The word [intifada] basically means 'shaking off.' That is the root word if you look it up in Arabic. I understand it is developing a negative connotation due to the uprising in the Palestinian-Israeli areas. I don't believe the intention is to have any of that kind of [violence] in New York City."

Yesterday, a lawyer for New York City conceded that Almontaser's remarks were correct - even a Dept. of Education monitor who was present during the interview thought the interview went well at the time - but explained the further public uproar generated (other critics characterized the school as a terrorist training school) forced them to fire her. Judge Jon Newman found that argument hard to swallow: "So if a city employee speaks to the press, they're at risk that the press garbles their remarks, and then they get fired? That's quite a position for the city of New York."

Almontaser is suing the city for violating her right to free speech. A lower court threw out the lawsuit, but the appellate court has not yet ruled on Almontaser's case.

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By Dave Hogarty in News on February 6, 2008 1:17 PM

Comments [rss]

JRod5417

Thanks for the welcome Murray. I've only lived in NYC my whole life, but thanks nonetheless.

rtd2101

And so what if they were intended to reference the Palestinian-Israeli conflict?!?!? I mean, c'mon! When did New York City pass a law saying that everyone who works for the city must support Israel and condemn everything that has to do with Palestine?

There IS a struggle going on there. And I'm sorry, but Israel does not get a green light to do whatever the hell it wants from me. Neither do the Palestinians for that matter. And I think terrorism is both evil and counterproductive and therefore never support it. But I will come out and say I support the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation. I support the right of Palestine to nationhood, and I think the situation in the occupied territories is a human rights disgrace.

But oh yeah, right, I can't say that here in New York. Ok, ok, forget what I said just now. Let me rephrase: "Israel is a blameless nation. All that Palestinians care about is killing Jews. They are all monsters and should be treated as such." *Phew* Ok, I can still live and work in New York now.

Murray Hillster

Guess NYC liberals ain't so liberal after all.

Welcome to NYC! Enjoy your stay ...

JRod5417

I really don't see why her statement caused such an uproar. Guess NYC liberals ain't so liberal after all. The judge hit the nail on the head.

Sleepy

#3 - yeah i know...i was trying to think of another similar co-opted word/symbol with violence connotations. "floating chrysanthemums" perhaps?

Hey NICE GASH

If this twit gets her job back on the grounds of NYC violating her free speech, then it should set a precedent for all city workers.

I.E. Cops who publicly disparage the mayor & police commissioner.

Firemen who ridicule the mayor & his campaign to get more under qualified women/minorities onto the FD.

Etc....If she gets her job back, any city worker should be allowed the freedom to voice their opinion without repercussion from Bloomberg and his lackeys....unlike now... where if you criticize Bloomberg/ Scoppetta/ Kelly you have a legitimate fear of losing your job b/c you don't agree with the administration.

I don't think almontaser's original comments/t-shirt were the smartest thing to put out there, but she has a right to say what she wants.

jibbly

That was a little quick for Godwin's Law.

HughGass

"who helped found the dual-language school with an emphasis on Arab culture"

Wow, hope those eggshells don't hurt your feet. Good thing you tiptoed around it. sheesh.

Sleepy

Yes, I'm sure the intifada shirts were in no way intended to reference the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. And swastikas have no referential meaning either - just an old Hindu symbol...