OC Student Suspended After Saying 'Free Palestine,' Family Says

CORONA DEL MAR, CA — An Orange County family took to social media after a Corona del Mar Middle and High School student was suspended from school for saying "Free Palestine" to another student, his family alleged.

In video posted to social media by one of the student's relatives, the 8th graders mother was shown asking a school official if what her son said was worthy of being suspended for three days.

A school official is heard in the video saying that he could not comment on the matter due to not knowing the full story.

In the social media post, the relative indicates that the boy had told a girl "Free Palestine" and that she responded by calling him a "terrorist."

Paperwork signed by Jacob Haley, principal to Corona del Mar Middle and High School, shows that the school says the student made "threatening remarks to a young lady in class."

The matter was discussed during a Newport-Mesa Unified School District meeting, where parents voiced both support and concern for the suspension.

Newport-Mesa Unified School District Superintendent Wesley Smith elaborated during the board meeting Tuesday that where it comes to the district, "Free Palestine" is not considered hate speech.

“We want to make sure people understand this district does not consider ‘Free Palestine’ hate speech,” Smith said during the meeting. “We absolutely are committed to free speech. We’re committed to making sure every single square inch of this district is safe for our students.”

During the Nov. 14 meeting, Smith addressed the suspension of the student but did not go into details about what led to the punishment. He did, however, note that district officials cannot divulge personal details about students and their disciplinary actions.

In an email to parents distributed over the weekend, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District said "information on social media and news media is an inaccurate and incomplete picture of what occurred,"

“We do not discipline students for solely exercising their right to free speech,” the district said.

“However, to adhere to laws that protect student privacy, we are unable to share the full details of the incident.”