ATLANTA — "Admit you made a mistake." That’s what some parents want Atlanta Public Schools to do, after they said the district sent out an insensitive statement about the Israel-Hamas war.
Dozens of Atlanta Public School parents told 11Alive they're disappointed by the district's statement last week, saying it missed the mark.
The district posted a statement on Friday – expressing sympathy for the children and families facing violence in the Middle East as war continues.
But it's the line where the district said it is "no stranger to the universal struggle for justice" and mentioned students who peacefully protested during the Civil Rights Movement that a group of parents like Sharyn Mulqueen said is upsetting.
“They didn’t really go together at all, and I don’t how it took a group of people a week to come up with a statement that was that insensitive," Mulqueen said.
More than 80 families signed a letter asking the district to revaluate their statement. Rabbi Ari Kaiman was one of those parents who said they're all hurting right now.
"It's okay to reach out and say, 'I’m standing with you'…it’s okay to say, 'what you’re feeling right now – I don’t understand, but I’m with you,'" Kaiman said.
The letter asks the district to acknowledge that the deaths in Israel are the result of a terrorist attack, which has raised security concerns at places of worship across the globe.
When 11Alive reached out to the district Tuesday to ask about parents’ concerns, it shared this message that was sent to families last night, offering a list of resources to discuss the war:
"The loss of life in Israel and Gaza and the continued escalation of events has shaken our APS community and indeed the world. We want all our families, students, and staff who are hurting or fearing for their loved ones or themselves to know that we stand with you and that support is available.
We are committed to keeping our children safe and encourage us all to treat each other with respect and empathy as we are one humanity. Atlanta Public Schools is a No Place for Hate district. We take that designation and charge seriously.
In light of these recent events, we want to provide you with tools and resources to help your child/children process their feelings about this heartbreaking situation. The materials provided here are also relevant for discussions about the senseless acts of violence that plague our local community and impact our youth. You may access the materials here: Resources for Families regarding war and violence. If you need any assistance using these resources, or if you feel your child/children require additional services, please do not hesitate to contact your school counselor.
Please know that our principals and assistant principals are being provided support and resources to help them navigate these issues on the school level.
Atlanta Public Schools continues to be hopeful for the peaceful resolution of the longstanding, multifaceted issues that have brought us to this point so that children in Atlanta and around the world can thrive in environments that are safe and secure.
Kind regards,
Dr. Danielle Battle"
Despite this latest message, those concerned families said what they want is for the district to admit it missed the mark in its original post.
“The statement was a mistake," Kaiman said. "All mistakes like this can be easily forgiven if there’s action taken, and I think they’re trying to take that action, which I appreciate.
"I and so many other Jewish leaders are always ready and available to be on the phone to talk with them to help them understand what we’re going through," Kaiman added.