CMS student alleges free speech violation over keffiyeh

An eighth grader alleged censorship and school leadership challenged his claim at the March 18 School Committee meeting, bringing a dispute over free speech at the middle school into the public eye. 

During public comment, eighth grader Aris Apollos told the School Committee that on Friday, March 13, middle school Assistant Principal Olive Bradford had asked him to stop wearing his keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf and cultural symbol, on the following Monday. 

“The administration in this building is violating students’ civil rights,” said Aris, 14. 

Schools Superintendent Laurie Hunter and district spokesperson Tom Lucey told The Acton Bridge that no student was restricted from wearing a keffiyeh, but did not answer Bridge questions about what, if anything, Bradford asked the student to do. 

‘No discipline or restrictions’ 

Before public comment at the March 18 meeting, Hunter denied any squelching of students’ rights. 

“We are here supporting students with whatever expressions they have … whether it be speech, clothing, other symbolism,” she said. “There’s been no discipline or restrictions on that in this building or any buildings.”

Aris told The Bridge he wears a keffiyeh “in memory of the children killed in Gaza.” He has also been a vocal critic of the Select Board’s January adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s antisemitism definition.

He said Bradford had told him that “if students and staff are complaining, then the keffiyeh could be considered a disruption to the learning environment.” Bradford could not immediately be reached for comment. 

The School Committee meeting’s comment period was filled with people showing support for Aris, many of whom wore their own keffiyeh and with many speakers identifying themselves as not from Acton. 

A Change.org petition started by Aris asks school administrators to “drop the keffiyeh ban.” As of this week, it had more than 600 signatures.

Ece Turnator, parent of a Acton-Carlisle High School sophomore, said she was dismayed when she heard about Aris’ allegation. 

“The banning of a student’s keffiyeh or any other cultural religious symbol is not an appropriate response by any school administration,” she said at the meeting.

‘Insult to injury’

Turnator is a founding member of Acton-Carlisle for Informed Dialogue, a group that seeks to increase understanding of Palestinian perspectives through community outreach. She saw Hunter’s opening comments as belying her concern. 

“Denying that this was actually a threat, a warning, or a ban adds insult to injury,” Turnator said. 

The Acton Middle School student handbook says that parents “have the right to determine how the student will dress, providing that attire is not destructive to school property, complies with requirements for health and safety, and does not cause disorder or disruption.” 

It also says faculty can “recommend appropriate dress.” 

Aris’ mother, former Acton public school teacher Christine Apollos, told The Bridge she supports her son and “can confirm” his version of events.

Aris told The Bridge that Bradford initially seemed unsure whether he would be disciplined before she called him on Saturday, March 14, to confirm he would not. 

Asked for additional context, Hunter emailed The Bridge: “Acton Public Schools supports freedom of speech, the right for students to express themselves, and we strive to create a culture that values diversity of thought while not placing restrictions on the uniqueness of each student and their voice. No students have been disciplined for or restricted from wearing a keffiyeh.”

Acton School Committee Chair Andrew Herchek said the committee takes community concerns seriously, and this incident had already been discussed with school leadership. 

“Based on the information provided by the administration, the claim that a student was told he could not wear a keffiyeh or would face discipline is inaccurate,” he said. “There has been no discipline, and students are not prohibited from expressing themselves in that way.” 

But to Aris, a line has already been crossed. 

“The only person having their learning environment disrupted is me,” he said.