DETROIT (BN24) — A 14-year-old Palestinian American student has filed a federal lawsuit against a Michigan school district, alleging her constitutional rights were violated after a teacher publicly chastised her for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in protest of U.S. support for Israel’s war in Gaza.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and the Arab American Civil Rights League, claims that Danielle Khalaf was subjected to humiliation and discrimination after silently protesting the Pledge over a three-day period in January. Danielle, a student at Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, is of Palestinian descent.
According to the complaint, Danielle’s teacher confronted her in front of classmates, saying, “Since you live in this country and enjoy its freedom, if you don’t like it, you should go back to your country.” The lawsuit argues that this comment, along with other actions, amounted to a violation of Danielle’s First Amendment rights.
“She was exercising a deeply held belief, grounded in her conscience and in protest of the violence unfolding in Gaza,” said ACLU attorney Mark Fancher. “We should all admire the courage it took for her to take that stand.”
The lawsuit further alleges that Danielle was labeled “disrespectful” by the teacher, leading to lasting emotional and psychological harm. It cites episodes of distress, including nightmares, heightened anxiety, and social isolation, including damaged peer relationships.
“It was traumatizing,” Danielle said at a news conference earlier this year. “It hurt, and I know she could do that to other people.”
The ACLU is seeking financial damages on Danielle’s behalf and a court ruling affirming that her rights were violated.
In a prior statement issued after the incident, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools acknowledged awareness of the situation and said “appropriate action” had been taken. The district has not elaborated on what that action entailed and declined to comment further Wednesday due to ongoing litigation.
“Discrimination in any form is not tolerated by Plymouth-Canton Community Schools and is taken very seriously,” the district stated at the time.
Michigan is home to one of the largest Arab American populations in the country, with over 300,000 residents of Middle Eastern or North African descent, second only to California, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
The lawsuit adds to growing concerns about the treatment of Arab and Muslim American students amid heightened tensions over the Gaza conflict. Civil rights organizations have warned of rising bias incidents in schools across the U.S. tied to expressions of political dissent and ethnic identity.
