In short: Sign this petition now to support the student's right to have ‘Free Palestine’ published in their 2025 Highschool year book.

In a world where freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democratic values, it is crucial that educational institutions, like Harrisdale Senior High School, uphold this principle. Recently, a student at Harrisdale Senior High School was denied the opportunity to use the phrase "Free Palestine" as her yearbook quote, because it was labelled "not apolitical." and "may offend some people." which is a frankly disgusting example of censorship in our society.

The yearbook quote is not a flippant remark; it is a statement of conscience in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the State of Palestine. This situation is widely recognised as a genocide by the United Nations and leading international experts on the subject, and this student felt a moral obligation to express her solidarity.

Denying a student the right to express this sentiment contradicts the educational goal of fostering critical thinking and understanding diverse perspectives. It is important to remember that this is not a political endorsement by the school, but rather a demonstration of its commitment to tolerance and acceptance of differing viewpoints.

Furthermore, the alternative suggested by the student, "Palestinian and Proud." was labelled as 'needing to be reviewed'. This is undeniably discriminatory, as the school would not deny any other student from expressing pride in their cultural identity.

We call upon the school administration and relevant authorities to take immediate action to support freedom of expression amongst students, and allow this comment be respected as a valid expression of her civic conscience. We request an intervention to ensure the school administration reverses its decision and allows her original comment, "Free Palestine," to be published in the yearbook as submitted.
Please sign this petition to show your support for the student's right to express their beliefs and to stand in solidarity with Palestine. By adding your signature, you are supporting an environment where students can freely express their convictions and engage in meaningful dialogues that shape their worldviews.