Northeast
New Jersey high school allegedly banned yellow ribbons honoring Israeli hostages: 'Deeply offensive'
A New Jersey high school is accused of banning yellow ribbons, aimed at honoring Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas, at a club fair, a move critics described as “deeply offensive” and “blatant antisemitism.”
Fair Lawn High School also prohibited Israeli flags at the event, because administrators believed the flags were too political, some parents and the group StopAntisemitism allege, noting that members of the Muslim Student Association were permitted to display a keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn by men from parts of the Middle East, according to the New York Post.
The event, according to the report, was partly promoting a trip to Israel.
“What happened at Fair Lawn High School is an alarming case of hypocrisy and blatant antisemitism,” StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez told the outlet. “This incident is nothing short of a direct violation of Jewish students’ rights to express their identity and humanitarian concerns.”
AMERICAN FATHER OF HAMAS HOSTAGE ITAY CHEN PUSHES US, ISRAEL ON ‘PLAN B’ AS NEGOTIATIONS FALTER
Between 33% to 40% of the 35,000 residents in Fair Lawn are Jewish. Fair Lawn in Bergen County is located about 17 miles from New York City.
This comes a year after Hamas terrorists’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against Israel, which led to military retaliation from Israel and sparked a still-ongoing war in the Middle East. More than 250 people, including some Americans, were abducted by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attacks. Many hostages have since been released, rescued or killed, while dozens are still held by Hamas.
One parent said the school district’s failure to address complaints about alleged antisemitism is not a new concern.
“The incident at Fair Lawn High School’s Club Fair is not an isolated event but part of a disturbing pattern of antisemitism that I and other parents have been battling for years,” Adi Vaxman, founder and president of Operation Israel, which provides humanitarian relief to Israel, told the New York Post.
“Despite numerous meetings with the board of education and the superintendent, promises of inclusion in anti-antisemitism efforts have gone unfulfilled,” added Vaxman, whose daughter Maya attends the school.
Vaxman continued: “The administrator’s claim that the yellow hostage ribbon — a humanitarian symbol calling for the release of innocent civilians abducted from their homes and held in subhuman conditions by Hamas — is ‘political’ is deeply offensive and unacceptable.”
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF OCT. 7 ATTACKS ARRIVES WITH LASTING TRAUMA FOR ISRAELIS, AMERICAN JEWS: EXPERT
Claiming a double standard, Vaxman said that the black-and-white keffiyeh, which she says is “a symbol of the armed resistance against Israelis,” was allowed to remain on display at the club event for hours.
“This glaring double standard exposes the bias of the school and the administrator in question,” she said. “It’s alarming that the school supports the Muslim Student Association identifying as Palestinian while censoring the Israeli flag for the Jewish Student Union. Israel is the world’s only Jewish state, naturally associated with Judaism and relevant to the [Jewish Student Union’s] advertised trip to Israel.”
Fair Lawn High Principal Paul Gorski released a statement defending the school’s response to ribbons and flags.
“We take pride in our Student Activities program as well as the leadership shown by both students and faculty,” Gorski wrote. “During this year’s event, both the Muslim Student Association and the Jewish Student Union were asked to adjust items that were not part of their original displays. Both groups received the same instruction and were treated equally.”
Gorski said no students were disciplined in connection with their participation at the club fair.
The principal also said the high school participates in the Anti-Defamation League’s “No Place for Hate” initiative and that the school was “proudly recognized” with a Gold Star distinction from the group during a ceremony earlier this year.
“We condemn antisemitism and remain steadfast in our commitment to creating an inclusive community where hate is not tolerated,” he said. “When we return to school after being closed for the Jewish holidays, we will engage in dialogue with our students and community. Hate has no home at Fair Lawn High School.”
Vaxman, however, maintains that the school discriminated against Jewish students during the club fair.
“This selective application of rules further demonstrates the discriminatory treatment of Jewish students,” Vaxman said. “The school’s response is extremely disappointing and fails to address these core issues. Their participation in the ‘No Place for Hate’ initiative rings hollow when Jewish students face such blatant discrimination and intimidation in their school on a regular basis. We demand concrete actions, not empty platitudes, to combat antisemitism and ensure true equality for ‘all’ students.”
Read the full article from Here
Massachusetts
Artist showcases wide range of upcycling at Massachusetts studio
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
New Hampshire
Ashland couple accused of illegally voting in N.H. are now due in court Nov. 21
CONCORD, N.H. — An Ashland couple accused of illegally voting in several New Hampshire elections while residing in Massachusetts have waived their first court appearance.
Joshua Urovitch, 56, and his wife Lisa Urovitch, 54, were scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Merrimack Superior Court in Concord. However, they waived their arraignments and are now due in court for the first time on Nov. 21 for a dispositional conference.
The couple’s lawyer, James Rosenberg, could not be reached for comment.
A dispositional conference is a method used in New Hampshire courts to bring the two sides together to “facilitate meaningful discussion and early resolution of a case,” according to New Hampshire state law.
Earlier: Authorities say this couple voted in New Hampshire while living in Ashland, Mass.
During the conference, possible plea agreements are discussed and if the prosecutors do not intend to make a plea offer, they have to notify the court 14 days prior to the hearing. If no plea agreement is reached, the case goes to trial, according to state law.
The couple were indicted last month, with each charged with three counts of unlawful voting. According to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office, the pair voted in three New Hampshire elections — the general election in November 2020 and November 2022, and a Concord school district election, also in 2022.
The Attorney General’s Office said the pair actually resided on Arrowhead Circle in Ashland. Joshua Urovitch bought that home in 2011. News reports said Lisa Urovitch has owned a condo in Concord, New Hampshire, since 2007.
According to the Ashland Town Clerk’s Office, the couple were not registered to vote in Massachusetts until 2023.
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.
New Jersey
Everything you need to know about becoming a poll worker in New Jersey
How much do you earn as a poll worker?
New Jersey poll workers earn $300, which equals $21.43 an hour. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill in March of 2022 increasing the pay from $200 to $300, to help attract more poll workers.
Thompson said, “We also are allowed to pay you for transporting the materials back to the Board of Elections, or picking up the voting machine keys in the morning, so for each district that you’ve got it’s $12.50 to pick up keys from your municipal clerk, or to deliver all the materials back at the end of the night, that’s also an additional $12.50, so someone could earn more than $300.”
How are poll workers recruited?
Besides word of mouth, Thompson said, “We do this through social media, through advertising, there’s portals on the State Division of Elections website.”
She said most New Jersey counties are still accepting applications. “Normally right before an election we’re short, sometimes 20% of what our needs are, but usually we get more applications than we can fill in a presidential year. People want to get involved.”
How many poll workers are in each polling location?
New Jersey law stipulates the minimum number of poll workers in a voting location on Election Day needs to be four, but Thompson said, “There isn’t one election, except for a presidential election where we’re compliant with that, because we’re short (workers) every single, solitary year.”
What happens if there’s a problem?
Thompson said county Boards of Election have supervising poll workers, sometimes called runners or floor managers, who will respond to different voting locations within a district if any problem arises.
“These are the folks who are the one point of contact if something goes wrong,” said Thompson. “These are the ones that we rely on to maybe fix the paper jam or help the voter call for assistance if there’s an issue with their voter registration.”
She said whatever issues may arise, “Don’t leave your polling location unsatisfied, or without calling your Board of Elections. If you’re denied the right to help, we want to help you.”
-
Technology5 days ago
Charter will offer Peacock for free with some cable subscriptions next year
-
World5 days ago
Ukrainian stronghold Vuhledar falls to Russian offensive after two years of bombardment
-
World5 days ago
WikiLeaks’ Julian Assange says he pleaded ‘guilty to journalism’ in order to be freed
-
Technology4 days ago
Beware of fraudsters posing as government officials trying to steal your cash
-
Health3 days ago
Health, happiness and helping others are vital parts of free and responsible society, Founding Fathers taught
-
Virginia6 days ago
Status for Daniels and Green still uncertain for this week against Virginia Tech; Reuben done for season
-
Sports3 days ago
Freddie Freeman says his ankle sprain is worst injury he's ever tried to play through
-
News3 days ago
Lebanon says 50 medics killed in past three days as Israel extends its bombardment