CAIR demands Washington schools link October 7 attacks to Gaza

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is demanding that school districts in the Washington state area change how they communicate regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. The organization is requesting that any mention of the attacks be linked to the current situation in Gaza, which they describe as a genocide.

Bellevue School District Superintendent Kelly Aramaki addressed concerns regarding a social media campaign promoting a student walkout on the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks. Aramaki noted that such demonstrations could be perceived as antisemitic or discriminatory harassment toward Jewish students. She stated that while the district will allow freedom of speech, it remains committed to maintaining a safe environment and confronting antisemitism in all forms.

The district also reported an incident involving a swastika found in a bathroom at Newport High School.