The Jersey City school board Tuesday night approved ethics charges against one of its members over a controversial pro-Palestinian slogan — and now it’s asking the state to decide whether it’s antisemitic hate speech or a peaceful rallying cry.
While dozens of speakers during the public portion of the meeting were split on the meaning and intent of “From the rivers to the sea, Palestine will be free,” most of the board agreed Trustee Younass Barkouch should not have shouted the inflammatory phrase at a school board meeting last month.
At Tuesday’s special meeting, the board voted 6-2 to file the charges against Barkouch with the state’s School Ethics Commission. It could mark the first time a state agency is being asked to make an official opinion on the slogan that has been declared antisemitic by a House of Representatives resolution.
It’s the third time in slightly more than a year that ethics charges have been filed against a board trustee, and the second this time this year. Former board President Natalia Ioffe faced ethics charges last year that were dismissed, while new board President DeJon Morris was cited in February for pushing a law firm hiring. Morris’ case has yet to be addressed by the state ethics commission.
A spokesman for the state Department of Education did not respond to comment on the latest Jersey City school board controversy.
A list of nearly 150 speakers were limited to one minute at the meeting, where Barkouch’s critics and supporters spoke passionately.
“I am horrified that just a few short months after I met Younass at a rally where he denounced Hamas, he has caved to the antisemitic zeitgeist and used a beautiful opportunity celebrating Muslim culture to call for the genocide of Jews,” said Julia Ben Shalom, a leader with the Jersey City Jewish Association.
Fatima Nasser, however, called the attacks on Barkouch “unjust censorship.”
“The attempt to censor his voice for expressing his solidarity is not just an injustice to him but to the very essence of our democratic rights,” Nasser said. “The phrase … is not an act of antisemitism, it is a call for justice and for the liberation of an oppressed people. To equate with hatred to any group is a misunderstanding.”
Some see the controversial slogan as a call for a free Palestinian state. Others consider it a battle cry demanding Israel’s destruction after the Hamas terrorist group adopted it in their fight against Israeli forces since launching a surprise attack Oct. 7.
“I want to apologize to those of you guys who don’t know me who took what I said and misinterpreted as a call to arms against Israel,” Barkouch, a Muslim Moroccan-American, said. “That was never my intention.”
Barkouch initiated the controversy during the April 25 board meeting, when he cupped his mouth with his hand and chanted “From the river to the sea” after a performance in celebration of Arab-American Heritage Month. Video of the event shows at least one student on the stage chanting something back toward the crowd.
“The reason why I said what I said is because it was Arab Heritage Month and there was not a single mention of what is going on in the Middle East,”
Tisdale and Barkouch voted against the resolution. Trustee George Blount was absent from the meeting. Barkouch and Morris could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
In the wake of the controversy, Barkouch resigned earlier this month from his position as a political aide to three Hudson County state legislators — Sen. Raj Muhkerji and Assembly members John Allen and Jessica Ramirez.
But he has been adamant that he will not step down from the board position he was first elected to in 2021, even after his colleagues demanded he resign.
Noting support from the audience, Barkouch told the board Tuesday “At the end of the day, you may try to censor me, but it means nothing.”
The trustee’s comments to the board – again apologizing and also explaining it was said in support of a free Palestine -- were met with frequent interruptions from Morris.
Former Vice President Noemi Velazquez, who was ousted by Morris and Barkouch earlier this year, chastised Barkouch.
“We do not bring our political views to this table and that is your error,” she said.
Tisdale lamented that throughout the 4-hour meeting, nothing was accomplished that improves education outcomes for students, and ultimately, “We cannot make Younass Barkouch resign.”
Barkouch has been at the center of controversy this year, from the ousting of previous board leaders Natalia Ioffe and Velazquez to the fight over the Eid holiday.
