Meeting after Glenbrook South yearbook entry on Hamas attack on Israel – NBC Chicago

Angry community members spoke out vigorously against an entry published in a suburban high school yearbook expressing joy over the October 7 attacks on Israel that sparked an ongoing conflict in the region.

The entry, published in the Glenbrook South High School yearbook, drew a packed school auditorium on Tuesday, with members of the school community speaking out and expressing disbelief that the comment was printed in the yearbook.

“As a former student, I find it abhorrent that a yearbook that was supposed to celebrate high school instead documents hate and violence,” said a spokeswoman. “This is not free speech. It’s about recognizing hate speech in all its forms.”

In the section describing the conflict, Hamas was referred to as a “militant group” rather than a “terrorist organization” as it was called by the US State Department.

In an accompanying post, a student expressed his “joy” at the attacks on Israel on October 7, pointing to the history of the conflict between Palestinians and Israel.

This expression outraged many parents and classmates and they asked why this expression was allowed to be published in the yearbook.

“I’m just wondering, how can this be OK? Who made this OK,” said Claire Eisenstadt, a student at Glenbrook North. “It’s just crazy that this is being published in my own district.”

The school board condemned the comments at the start of the meeting and announced that it would investigate how they came to be published. Once the investigation is complete, the board will release a full report.

Many participants also expressed concern about the vitriol directed at the 15-year-old student who made the comments and raised concerns about the teenager’s physical safety.

“I don’t think this student should be doxxed online like she was,” said Saddia Malik, a graduate of Glenbrook South.

Rabbi Aaron Braun of Northbrook Community Synagogue also said the situation could serve as a teaching moment.

“You did not protect the student who wrote this opinion or adequately educate him about the impact his writing had on the community,” he said.

Caryn Flieger agreed with this opinion.

“Every time a mistake is made, the gap gets bigger. Use this opportunity to learn,” she said.