Free Speech
My Speech to the County Board of Education
“It is time to openly recognize that Palestinian lives matter, and demand that Palestinian voices be heard!”
Good afternoon,
I am the parent of a Howard County high school student. I’m an author, and an educator, having served 22 years at the University of Maryland.
I am, also, Palestinian American.
I was in Palestine, visiting my brother, on October 7.
We had no idea what was happening. Day after day, we heard a nonstop stream of airplanes above us in Ramallah — a sortie every 5 min. Each flight meant an apartment building in Gaza tumbling on the lives and families inside.
We had no guarantee of safety ourselves, and for ten days, my daughter worried for my safe return.
I came back here to a letter from the superintendent asking students to be quiet. His sole concern, it seemed, was the feelings of the Jewish students.
My family and I felt abandoned and unsupported, even betrayed.
“My Palestinian American daughter has as much a right to free speech as anyone else, an unconditional right.”
Some Howard County students have relatives in Gaza — or had.
All see the disturbing images and videos on their social media feeds.
Such a letter shows a deep disregard for Palestinian lives. It also dismisses the mental health needs of students exposed to the brutal scenes.
Our discomfort is no reason to silence our children!
Free expression is empowering and helps them process the inhumanity on display. For their own mental health and well-being, we should encourage our students to talk about what they see, while we listen.
Civility (!) should never be cover for censorship.
Why bother teach the First Amendment, then threaten to punish students who exercise that right?
“At a time of genocide, speaking is not only a right, but an obligation!”
My Palestinian American daughter has as much a right to free speech as anyone else, an unconditional right.
In just 8 months, Israel killed over 40,000 human beings in Gaza, half of whom are children. Hundreds of thousands are facing starvation. Millions are made homeless. Those who survive will be traumatized for life.
The people in Gaza are being murdered using American-made bombs, paid for by our taxes. We all have a stake and bear responsibility, so we must discuss this openly.
At a time of genocide, speaking is not only a right, but an obligation! Silencing Palestinian voices is complicity with the war crimes.
Instead of silencing speech, I urge the school system to organize town halls about the genocide in Palestine, so children and their parents come to exchange their viewpoints and learn from each other.
It is time to openly recognize that Palestinian lives matter, and demand that Palestinian voices be heard!
With Love,
Ramsey Hanhan
Author, Fugitive Dreams
