Antisemitic phrase printed in Yorktown High School yearbook
In an email to the community, school officials said it was an oversight, and they've made steps to ensure a similar incident doesn't happen again. But for many, that just wasn't enough of a response.
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The Yorktown High School 2024 yearbook came out on Wednesday, and one of the seniors chose the antisemitic phrase “From the river to the sea” as their yearbook quote.
"The students are told that they shouldn't use words of hatred, political statements and things of this sort, this is absolutely hate speech,” said Rabbi Robbie Weiner, of Temple Beth Am in Yorktown. He is also the parent of a child at the high school.
"From the river to the sea to me, means, I hear that and that's the land of Israel so I think no Israel. I was personally very upset that it was in the yearbook," said high school sophomore Talia Pierson.
In an email to the community, school officials said it was an oversight, and they've made steps to ensure a similar incident doesn't happen again. But for many, that just wasn't enough of a response.
A subsequent email went out today- this time with an apology.
"I wish they would address the quote a little bit more," said Pierson.
In today's letter, the school mentioned a couple of solutions. Students can trade in their yearbook for a reprinted one without the quote, or they can be provided with a sticker to cover it. But Talia says she probably won't do either of those things.
"It's important that we see that this exists and that we don't just cover it up because that's not going to change anything, " she said.
She says the only thing that can instigate change is education.
"If we want to actually address how hurtful the phrase is and address the misconceptions and hate spreading around the conflict, then there needs to be more of a focus with education initiatives for students."
