In New York, a high school student has initiated legal proceedings against school officials following the erasure of her decorated parking spot, which she had adorned with an image of a watermelon slice representing solidarity with Palestinians. The legal case, recently filed in Brooklyn federal court, accuses the Half Hollow Hills Central School District of violating her rights to free speech and inflicting emotional distress when they painted over her artwork just at the beginning of the academic year.
The student, who is known in the lawsuit under the pseudonym Jane Khan, participated in a school tradition of decorating parking spots at Half Hollow Hills High School West, located on Long Island. As a senior, she painted a watermelon slice with a pattern resembling a keffiyeh scarf, accompanied by the phrase “Peace Be Upon You” and her name in Arabic. The lawsuit describes her as a Muslim American of Pakistani heritage.
The legal filing states that Khan used the watermelon and keffiyeh design to express her solidarity with Palestinians, a sentiment she associates with her Muslim identity and Pakistani background. For Palestinians, the watermelon serves as a symbol of solidarity, echoing their flag’s red, white, and green colors, after the flag was prohibited by Israel in 1967.
Seeking an unspecified amount in damages, the lawsuit alleges that the school district removed her decorative art after the principal subjected her to questioning and threats during a closed meeting, without engaging in constructive discussion with her parents, peers, or relevant community members from Asian and Muslim backgrounds.
Although the student’s lawyer has shared a copy of the court documents, further comments have been withheld. When reached for a statement, district officials did not respond to emails requesting their perspective, despite a past explanation that the artwork was removed to preserve impartiality on contentious political topics.
The lawsuit points out that historically, the school tradition has accommodated and accepted varied viewpoints. Students have previously depicted elements such as the LGBTQIA pride flag, a “Black Lives Matter” fist, and even symbols associated with political parties. The complaint asserts that removing Khan’s expression of pro-Palestinian sentiment was not aimed at avoiding disruption or harm, as similar expressions on equally controversial issues have been tolerated and, at times, supported by the school.