On Nov. 3, the Bonita Vista High (BVH) student run newspaper, the Crusader, published their second issue which included a controversial Editorial Cartoon under the opinion section. The cartoon depicted a students’ view on the Israel-Palestine conflict—specifically a criticism of the Israeli and United States governments. The publication immediately received feedback and was faced with censorship.
On Nov. 13, the staff of the Crusader attended the Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD) board meeting held at the district office’s board room in Chula Vista to hear thoughts and concerns from community members in regards to the cartoon. Some attended to voice their belief that the publication needed to be censored because the cartoon could pose a threat to the community while others argued the publication had a right to publish political content as they are protected under the first amendment right to freedom of speech.
After discussion on items that were specifically listed on the agenda, the board opened the floor up to public communications in which members of the public could address the board on any matter not on the agenda for twenty minutes. Speakers had three minutes each devoted to voicing their concerns. Lexie Solomen, a BVH alumni and former Crusader staff member, spoke in regards to how student journalists are entitled to freedom of speech.
“I think high school journalism is incredibly important. It gives a voice to students when they are at an age where they often feel like they do not have a voice and they are not taken seriously. A school newspaper is a really good place to channel dialogue and bring it into your community,” Solomon said.
Solomon believed strongly in not only the publication’s right to publish the cartoon but also the cartoon’s intended message. They voiced their opinion that the cartoon was a rightful criticism and not targeted at Israeli or Jewish people.
“Student journalists are exercising their free and protected speech to do what so many adults have been afraid to do. [The student who created the cartoon] did not target Israeli citizens and they did not target anyone in the Jewish community,” Solomon said. “They targeted the government that has continued to enable this horrific violence and the American voters that choose to remain silent.”
Tommy Broudy, a BVH parent who felt personally concerned with the intentions of the artist, spoke at the meeting about how he believed there to be anti-semetic tropes within the Editorial Cartoon. Broudy used his three minutes to stress the dangers this cartoon poses to the safety of Jewish students and community members.
“It is imperative that our faculty advisors help these students [the Crusader staff] to understand the consequences of their actions and the consequences of free speech. Free speech does not guarantee all speech and it must be informed. If it is not informed there are consequences that come,” Broudy said.
Following that statement, Broudy attempted to bring up his son, junior Ariel Broudy, to read a prepared quote to the board members. As the three minutes came to an end with T. Broudy and his son still continuing their statement, attendees outside and inside the board office erupted in chaos urging for the both of them to be taken away from the podium.
From outside the office statements such as “your lies are up,” could be heard, directed at the BVH student and his father. As other aggressive messages were directed at the speakers, more specifically A. Broudy, he was escorted out of the building for his safety.
President of the SUHSD school board, Nicholas Segura, immediately gave warnings to attendees inside of the room. When the shouting and interruptions continued after a second warning, Segura told attendees that they would be “taking a break” and asked everyone to “clear the room.” All attendees were ushered out except for anyone responsible for media coverage and doors were closed. After an eight minute intermission the board announced that the meeting would resume.
“This is a public forum but we need to be respectful when people are talking and not chime in. That is not how it works around here. You could speak and come to the microphone and say your peace,” Segura said.
Board members decided to close the doors for the remainder of the meeting to prevent chaos from breaking out again as there were eleven minutes left of the public communications section. Along with Segura’s message, SUHSD superintendent Moisés Aguirre states the importance of respecting others’ perspectives or opinions when community members speak out during the board meeting. While he emphasizes that this is a space for the community to share their perspectives, he still notes that there is an expectation of how the meeting is to be conducted.
“I feel we have learned a lesson in democracy and the importance of understanding that we all have a different perspective. We all [should] conduct ourselves with a decorum that we would like to see in our community,” Aguirre stated during the board meeting. “Regardless of your perspective, this is the space [where] you can share that perspective. I believe that this is a fundamental thing that makes us who we are.”
Following several other statements read by community members, the Crusader newspaper Editor-in-Chief and senior Grace Na, read the publications statement with her fellow editorial board standing behind her at the podium in solidarity. The statement read that the intended argument of the cartoon was to evoke emotions and discourse amongst the BVH community, but the Crusader, as a whole, has become aware of how the BVH Jewish community perceive this to be anti-Semitic.
“The Editorial Board is deeply concerned with the unintended harm the editorial cartoon may have caused. Especially, as we become aware of an increase of anti-Semitic acts, the Crusader wants to work towards creating a safe environment for those who are most vulnerable in our community,” Na said.
