Antisemitic display at multicultural school event

The Birmingham school district was forced to deal with an antisemitic incident at an event at an elementary school that was intended to bring together the community to appreciate the varied cultures represented in the area.

According to a community announcement issued by schools superintendent Dr. Embekka Roberson, the incident took place at an event during Beverly Elementary’s Multicultural Night on Tuesday evening, April 28.

According Roberson, “during the event, a table in one room included stickers that were inappropriate and offensive, including a sticker with an image of a gun and a sticker that stated “(expletive) Zionism. These materials were not on display during the principal's walk through prior to the event, and they do not reflect our district's values.”

The superintendent further noted that “as soon as the situation was brought to the attention of the school administration, we took prompt, thoughtful steps to address it and keep the Beverly school community informed. We are handling this matter carefully and in line with our district policies.”

The announcement to the community also noted that “we recognize that incidents like this are hurtful, and we are sorry for the impact on our community. It is not what we want for our students or our families. We remain committed to ensuring that our schools are places where all feel safe, respected, and supported.”

Roberson also said that the district would be reviewing and planning to “strengthen safeguards for future events.”