Why We Need to Act
Reynolds Secondary proudly promotes diversity and inclusion, but anti-Palestinian racism and hate are being ignored. This includes the normalization of Zionism, which has led to ongoing violence, ethnic cleansing, and the erasure of Palestinian existence and rights.

Recently, a disturbing incident occurred that highlights the need for change. A Google Form submission sent to the Minority Empowerment Club was filled with deeply hateful and discriminatory language. The anonymous sender:

• Declared an intent to “promote Zionism.”
• Threatened to “run the club and organize hate festivals.”
• Said they would bring “racism” and “more hate” to the club.
•  “Learn about the glory of colonizers.”
• The sender’s name was “Ligma Balls” and the username “D1 hater nation,” clearly meant to mock and intimidate us.

This hateful message was directly tied to the club’s stated intent to create space for conversations about Palestine and global justice. By explicitly connecting Zionism to the glorification of colonization and harm, this was not a harmless joke, it was a direct attack on students advocating for Palestinian rights.

Instead of condemning this hate, school administrators dismissed it as a “joke” and “rage bait.” They focused on criticizing our emotional response rather than addressing the harm. Later, at two assemblies, they only spoke about anti-Semitism, completely ignoring anti-Palestinian racism — sending a message that Palestinian students and allies are invisible and unprotected. 

Why This Matters
Anti-Palestinian racism is real. Palestinians are routinely dehumanized, their history erased, and their suffering dismissed. According to a recent report from York University’s Islamophobia Research Hub, there have been nearly 100 documented cases of anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab racism, or Islamophobia in Canada since October 7th, ranging from vandalism and doxxing to students being disciplined for displaying Palestinian identity. Researchers and community leaders are calling for federal recognition of Nakba Day and a national definition of anti-Palestinian racism.

Zionism today is not neutral — it represents support for systems of oppression that require the displacement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians to create a state, a fact recognized by human rights organizations and the United Nations, which have described Israel’s policies as apartheid and genocide. You cannot “create” land for one group without violently removing those who already live there.

Students at Reynolds and other schools have faced harassment for expressing Palestinian identity. For example, one student, Hamza, experienced bullying in the York Region school board to the point that his family felt it was unsafe for him to remain and moved him to another city. At Reynolds, Palestinian students have similarly faced restrictions: a student was prohibited from bringing a Palestinian flag to Culture Day, despite no disrespect being intended. Identity and culture should not be treated as insults or punishable offenses. Schools should protect students’ right to celebrate and express their heritage, rather than suppress it.

Just as schools address homophobia, anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, and anti-Semitism, anti-Palestinian racism must also be named and opposed. Ignoring it — or dismissing explicit hate as “just a joke” — creates a hostile environment where students feel unsafe speaking up about Palestine or other issues of justice.

Our Demand

We call on Reynolds Secondary and the Greater Victoria School District (SD61) to:

• Formally recognize anti-Palestinian racism and hate, including Zionism, as discrimination.
• Publicly condemn this incident and acknowledge the harm caused.
• Provide education and training on anti-Palestinian racism.
• Create safe reporting systems for incidents of hate and bias.
• Protect students’ right to express their cultural and national identity, including wearing flags, symbols, or clothing that reflect Palestinian heritage, without fear of harassment or disciplinary action.

This is about safety, dignity, and equity for all students.
Sign this petition to demand action now.