Thousands of protesters marched through downtown ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ to Queen’s Park on Wednesday to protest mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows First Nation. The ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ school board has apologized to families after students attended the rally, as a field trip, where pro-Palestinian slogans were heard.
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ school board apologizes after students attend downtown protest as a field trip
“In general, students should not be participating in organized protests as part of a field trip, and this clarification will be shared with the system,” the TDSB said in a statement on Thursday.
Thousands of protesters marched through downtown ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ to Queen’s Park on Wednesday to protest mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows First Nation. The ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ school board has apologized to families after students attended the rally, as a field trip, where pro-Palestinian slogans were heard.
The ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ District School Board has apologized to families after middle-school students attending a downtown field trip ended up in a rally where pro-Palestinian slogans were heard.
Parents had been told that their children would attend the Grassy Narrows River Run rally and march to Queen’s Park from Grange Park on Wednesday. The community event was organized in support of the Grassy Narrows First Nation, and students were expected to learn about the impact of mercury contamination in that community. Schools were aware the event would likely have a political component but assured parents in a letter that students would not be participating in a planned rally.
The event took a different turn.Â
“Students as young as 11 were seen marching with their teachers and protesters while chanting, ‘From Turtle Island to Palestine, Occupation is a Crime,’” according to a statement issued by the Jewish Educators and Families Association of Canada (JEFA).Â
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The TDSB issued a note of apology on Thursday, acknowledging that “some students may have been negatively impacted by what they saw and heard.”Â
“This excursion was organized as an educational experience for students to hear from Indigenous voices about the ongoing challenges faced by the people of Grassy Narrows,†the TDSB stated.
“The TDSB was not aware that students would engage with any issues outside of the main focus of the River Run and we apologize for the harm that some students may have experienced as a result,†the statement said, adding “we are supporting impacted students and their families.â€
The board said it’s reviewing its field trip procedures to provide guidance to uphold the well-being and safety of students.Â
“In general, students should not be participating in organized protests as part of a field trip, and this clarification will be shared with the system,” the TDSB stated in a letter.
The board did not name the schools affected by this event.
Diana Zlomislic is a ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½-based housing reporter for the
Star. Follow her on Twitter: .
