Brooklyn educator who called Zionists ‘pigs’ is cuffed at Columbia protest: ‘Fire him now’
A Brooklyn teaching assistant was handcuffed at a fiery Columbia protest — just days after he branded his boss a “spineless coward” for suspending him after he posted an antisemitic video.
James Parra and other pro-Palestinian protesters were taken away by cops when the raucous group refused to move from outside campus gates on Monday. Parents at the Brooklyn Arbor Elementary School in Williamsburg where he works want him fired.
As he was being handcuffed, the fifth-grade paraprofessional, 27, chanted, “Resistance is justified when people face genocide.”
He was given a summons, which means he will escape a criminal record, but will still have his conduct reviewed by the Department of Education.
Four days previously, Parra took part in a Zoom meeting of Community Education Council 14, where he shocked other participants by launching an attack on school superintendent David Cintron — who was present — and by ranting anti-Israel slogans.
Parra was incensed at being suspended for 10 days in March after he posted a video on Instagram of himself wearing a keffiyeh, apparently in school, saying, “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea within our lifetime.”
He also called Israel a “racist” and “terrorist” state and defended using the term “Zionist pig.”
During the meeting, he told Cintron, “I think you, sir, are a spineless, hypocritical coward who promotes racism.
“You are shameful and kids in this district are worse because of you and your quote unquote leadership.
“As I said before, you know where to find me, you know where I work, you know my boss — who is another spineless coward — and you have not done anything to come to me to speak to me about any of this.
“It is hypocritical for you to say you want a good community when that is the last thing you have done and that is the last thing you have ever done.
“So shame on you, you are a coward, you are spineless and, you know what, f–k it; free Palestine forever and always from the river to the sea, f–k it.”
In response, CEC-14 president Tajh Sutton praised Parra, saying, “We love you.”
“We know what it took you to come to this space, and we just love you very much and you are the best of this district,” Sutton said.
Sutton this week was reprimanded by city Schools Chancellor David Banks for “failing to effectively conduct business” by promoting a citywide student walkout to protest the Israel-Hamas war, The Post revealed.
Banks accused Sutton of violating multiple state laws, including one that could get her permanently banned from serving on any citywide board.
A parent who has a child at Brooklyn Arbor Elementary School told The Post that Jewish children and parents are scared by Parra’s presence and that his detention by police showed he has to be removed.
“He should be fired,” the parent said. “Otherwise it’s just pointless words from the Department of Education and, once again, no action.”
“Some Jewish children have felt scared when there were protests for him outside of the school and when he says ‘from the river to the sea,’ which is a call for genocide,” the parent said.
“He’s trying to make this about wearing a keffiyeh, but it’s not about that. It’s about making death threats to Jewish people when he’s working with Jewish children. I don’t love that he wears a keffiyeh, but he’s entitled to wear it.”
DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer said: “We don’t comment about personnel matters, but every arrest or report of criminal conduct by an employee is reviewed and appropriate action is taken.”
Attempts to reach Parra were unsuccessful.
