The EMSB Helping to send children into active war zone
Some members of the staff are donating to the trip.
The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) is helping to send children into an active war zone.
Last week, The Rover reported that the EMSB is sending children to Israel to participate in the Israeli “The March of the Living,” an annual holocaust remembrance ceremony. This ceremony also takes place in Poland, where the Holocaust happened.
The EMSB corrected Chris, saying that they are not sending children into an active war zone, they are only helping to fund the trip, and they are providing a teacher chaperone. All three children attend EMSB schools. We will not be naming them here, as they are minors.
The EMSB has decided to add its branding to the entire trip, encouraging family members to donate to this trip. Several people in the EMSB administration have donated to it, including Michael Cohen, the spokesperson for the EMSB. The fundraiser is found here, and all names donated are open to the public.
The teacher chaperone in the video says that she and her family never had the chance to go participate in the Israeli March of the Living because of “Covid and war,” but believes that right now is the time to go.
Al Jazeera is reporting that there are at least 18,551 injured in Iran, and 1,444 killed. Nonetheless, it is not safe to send children into Israel either, since many missiles have breached the iron dome. As of the 17th of March, 15 have been killed in Israel, as well as 3,369 injured. An estimated 285 ballistic missiles have been fired at Israel, as well as 107 drones.
Many have breached the “Iron Dome.” Still, this hasn’t stopped the EMSB from putting their stamp of approval on sending children from their schools into this active war zone.
This doesn’t even account for intense pollution in the area which will kill people for decades to come. Sending children to this region right now is subjecting them to harmful pollutants which could have long term consequences.
This is only a few months after an EMSB school suspended a student for saying “Fuck Israel” on an instagram post. The child who was suspended is Mohawk, and saw much of her own culture’s story in the plight of the Palestinian people.
Israel’s armed assault on Palestine has been broadly condemned as a genocide, and was confirmed to be a genocide by an independent committee at the UN. We produced a summary of their findings here at On the Trail.
Independent Jewish Voices has spoken up and condemned both the suspension of the student, as well as the decision to send children into an active war zone.
