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Arab-American teen who sat for Pledge of Allegiance reaches settlement with Plymouth-Canton Schools [View all]
Reposted by Kevin M. Kruse
https://bsky.app/profile/kevinmkruse.bsky.social
Hemant Mehta
@friendlyatheist.com
A 14-year-old girl knew her constitutional rights better than her teacher.
She sat during the Pledge to protest the war in Gaza.
Her teacher humiliated her, even saying "go back to your country."
She sued.
The district just paid up.
https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/palestinian-teen-bullied-by-teacher
Palestinian teen bullied by teacher over Pledge protest wins legal settlement
Danielle Khalaf was humiliated by her teacher after she refused to stand for the Pledge. She sued. The result is a huge victory.
www.friendlyatheist.com
9:19 AM · Mar 28, 2026
@friendlyatheist.com
A 14-year-old girl knew her constitutional rights better than her teacher.
She sat during the Pledge to protest the war in Gaza.
Her teacher humiliated her, even saying "go back to your country."
She sued.
The district just paid up.
https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/palestinian-teen-bullied-by-teacher
Palestinian teen bullied by teacher over Pledge protest wins legal settlement
Danielle Khalaf was humiliated by her teacher after she refused to stand for the Pledge. She sued. The result is a huge victory.
www.friendlyatheist.com
9:19 AM · Mar 28, 2026
A 14-year-old girl knew her constitutional rights better than her teacher.
— Hemant Mehta (@friendlyatheist.com) 2026-03-28T13:19:08.258Z
She sat during the Pledge to protest the war in Gaza.
Her teacher humiliated her, even saying "go back to your country."
She sued.
The district just paid up.
www.friendlyatheist.com/p/palestinia...
Arab-American teen who sat for Pledge of Allegiance reaches settlement with Plymouth-Canton Schools
By David Komer | Published March 26, 2026 2:46pm EDT | FOX 2 Detroit |
Danielle Khalaf
The Brief
• A lawsuit by an Arab-American girl against her school district who sat for the Pledge of Allegiance has been settled.
• Danielle Khalaf said she was admonished for sitting in reaction to the conflict in Gaza by her teacher, including being told to ‘go back to her own country.’
• As part of the lawsuit, the school district is clearing her student record and providing diversity, sensitivity and First Amendment training.
FOX 2 - An Arab-American middle school student who said she was admonished for sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance has settled a First Amendment free speech lawsuit.
The backstory:
Danielle Khalaf said she was the target of racism after choosing not to stand at East Middle School in Plymouth. The teen claimed the teacher singled her out and told her to "go back to her country."
On Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and the Arab American Civil Rights League announced the lawsuit has been settled.
The 14-year-old middle school student of Palestinian descent who, in reaction to events in Gaza, remained seated and silent while her classmates rose to recite the Pledge of Allegiance on Jan. 10. ... "She called me out in front of the entire class saying what I did was disrespectful," said Danielle Khalaf said in a press conference last February. "She told me that since I live in this country and enjoy these freedoms, if I don’t like it, I should go back to my country. It crushed me. It broke me."
{snip}
By David Komer | Published March 26, 2026 2:46pm EDT | FOX 2 Detroit |
Danielle Khalaf
The Brief
• A lawsuit by an Arab-American girl against her school district who sat for the Pledge of Allegiance has been settled.
• Danielle Khalaf said she was admonished for sitting in reaction to the conflict in Gaza by her teacher, including being told to ‘go back to her own country.’
• As part of the lawsuit, the school district is clearing her student record and providing diversity, sensitivity and First Amendment training.
FOX 2 - An Arab-American middle school student who said she was admonished for sitting during the Pledge of Allegiance has settled a First Amendment free speech lawsuit.
The backstory:
Danielle Khalaf said she was the target of racism after choosing not to stand at East Middle School in Plymouth. The teen claimed the teacher singled her out and told her to "go back to her country."
On Thursday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and the Arab American Civil Rights League announced the lawsuit has been settled.
The 14-year-old middle school student of Palestinian descent who, in reaction to events in Gaza, remained seated and silent while her classmates rose to recite the Pledge of Allegiance on Jan. 10. ... "She called me out in front of the entire class saying what I did was disrespectful," said Danielle Khalaf said in a press conference last February. "She told me that since I live in this country and enjoy these freedoms, if I don’t like it, I should go back to my country. It crushed me. It broke me."
{snip}
3 replies
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