Alex Cherniss overruled a Board of Education decision to display Israeli flags on all Beverly Hills Unified campuses during Jewish American Heritage Month, citing student safety. The board had voted 3-2 for the display as part of a resolution to combat antisemitism, expand Jewish history education, and recognize remembrance days for the Holocaust and Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Cherniss cited a policy allowing immediate action to avoid risk and ordered that only U.S. and California flags be flown until further notice. Supporters saw the display as solidarity amid rising antisemitism; critics said the flag endorses the Israeli state and military actions in Gaza. Board President Rachelle Marcus voted against the resolution over safety concerns.
On Tuesday, the board voted 3 to 2 in favor of the flag display, which was part of a resolution on combating antisemitism that also called for greater education on Jewish history and recognizing remembrance days for the Holocaust and Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. On Friday, Beverly Hills Unified Supt. Alex Cherniss announced that he was using his executive authority to stop the flag display.
"In light of heightened safety concerns around the displaying of flags on our campuses I have made the decision to take immediate action for the safety and security of our students," he said in a statement. "Until further notice, no flags will be displayed on our campuses other than the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of California.
The motion to display the Israeli flag had stirred controversy inside and out of the Beverly Hills school community. Several board members and community members lauded the display as a way to signify support of the Jewish community amid a surge in antisemitism. Critics, on the other hand, said that the flag symbolizes support of the Israeli state and that this is inappropriate in a public school setting.
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