An educational tour by Toronto students to learn about the status of First Nations in northern Ontario ended with protests. Pro-Palestinian slogans were raised during the protest.
A small number of students participated in the Grassy Narrows River Run, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said in a statement. The trip was organized to learn about mercury contamination among First Nations. The ride was supposed to start from Grange Park near the Art Gallery of Ontario. The finish was supposed to be at Queen’s Park.
TDSB said the program was aimed at gaining learning experience. But in a video circulating on social media, some students could be seen taking part in the march and chanting the same slogan over and over again. The slogan reads, From Turtle Island to Palestine, Occupation is Crime. Those who chanted these slogans were the organizers of the protest.
The board said they were not aware of any students who might be involved in anything other than River Run. And we apologize for the hurt some students may have experienced as a result. The board is providing ongoing support to the affected students and their families.
According to the board, it is not appropriate for students to participate in organized protests as part of educational tours. Guidelines regarding this will be distributed within the school system. At the same time, TDSB will review the educational tour procedure. This will provide a guideline, which will ensure the safety and welfare of the students.
Education Minister Jill Dunlop said she was deeply disappointed by the incident. Compromising the safety and security of students is absolutely unacceptable. I expect TDSB to conduct a thorough review of the situation. It will also ensure accountability to parents and students to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
