A New York teacher filed a complaint after he says he was told not to wear a 'Proud Zionist' or 'Back the Blue' shirt to school: report
A New York City teacher said he was told to stop wearing his t-shirts that say "Back the Blue" and "Proud Zionist" to school.
The teacher has since filed a complaint with the Department of Education complaining of discrimination and anti-Semitism, according to the New York Post.
Both the teacher and the school's principal have received complaints about the teacher's t-shirts, according to the Post.
A New York teacher filed a complaint after he was told he was not permitted to wear shirts that said "Back the Blue" and "Proud Zionist" to school.
Jeffrey Levy, who teaches at William Alexander Middle School 51 in Brooklyn, New York, said the principal of his school told him to stop wearing his "Proud Zionist" shirt at school, according to a complaint to the Department of Education seen by Insider.
Levy said that the principal's determination that Levy's shirts were "politically explosive" is anti-Semitic because other teachers at the school have worn shirts supporting feminism and the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Singh's definition of politically explosive attire appears limited to Jews only," Levy told the New York Post. "His attempt to threaten and intimidate me is anti-Semitic."
Middle School 51 Principal Neal Singh did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.
In an email exchange between Levy and Singh obtained by Insider, Singh said that he gave Levy a "verbal warning that the politics you expressed via your t-shirts had led to students feeling unsafe and uncomfortable, in that it was 'triggering' due to the politics expressed."
Levy responded that he was offended by the Black Lives Matter organization and the LGBTQ community. He said that they should have to remove their shirts and flags as well.
"My beliefs will never be stopped and I will continue wearing whatever I want," Levy said, according to Singh's email. "If kids can't deal with it they should grow up."
"This violates my First Amendment," Levy added.
In his complaint to the DOE, Levy said that his attire and beliefs never endangered "the emotional or physical safety of students or staff, which Singh accused me of." Both Singh and Levy said they received complaints about Levy's attire, according to the Post.
DOE spokesperson Katie O'Hanlon told Insider that Singh's response was appropriate by department standards.
"Schools are not public forums for advancing personal political views and per Department of Education regulations, employees are prohibited from using schools for the purpose of political expression," O'Hanlon told Insider. "This principal's request followed complaints from students and staff and is consistent with policies around political neutrality in schools."
Read the original article on Insider
