EVANSTON, IL — A new group to counter antisemitism and Islamophobia is in the works at Evanston Township High School.
Administrators on Friday announced the formation of the “Working Group to Combat Anti-Jewish, Anti-Muslim, and Anti-Arab Racism.” The group will review ETHS activities, processes and practices before presenting its recommendations for responding to racism targeting Arabs, Jews and Muslims to Superintendent Marcus Campbell.
According to the district, the working group aims to facilitate dialogue and understanding about the effect of “recent events in Israel and Gaza” on the ETHS school community, recommend strategies for educators to prevent the rise of anti-Arab, anti-Jewish and Anti-Muslim sentiments and ensure that staff feel better equipped to address the needs of affected students.
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The new group is scheduled to meet four times starting March 14 and continuing through May 6, with meetings facilitated by Equity Director Ganae McAlpin-Toney and Interim Communications Director Reine Hanna, according to district representatives.
“With the informed guidance of the Working Group, my hope is that we will develop new, action-oriented measures and solutions to address these issues through education and dialogue,” Campbell told the school community Friday. “I am optimistic that this approach will pave the way for deeper, respectful, and more meaningful conversations among our students, families, and staff to promote healing and understanding as we move forward together.”
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Staff, students, parents and community members have until Wednesday to nominate themselves to serve on the working group via an online form.
“Nominees must demonstrate a genuine interest in the issue, alignment with the goals of the working group, and a commitment to actively participating in the working group’s activities, including attending meetings, contributing to discussions, and collaborating with other members,” according to the district’s website.
Working group nominees should also have relevant experience, knowledge or expertise that would help the group, it said.
“Our goal is to ensure that ETHS not only responds to incidents or allegations of discrimination,” the superintendent said, “but also takes proactive steps to advance inclusion for Arab, Palestinian, Israeli, Muslim and Jewish community members and devise strategies to combat Islamophobia and antisemitism at our school.”
Complaints of antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents have been on the rise since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and subsequent war in Gaza.
The Anti-Defamation League, or ADL, reported the number of antisemitic incidents rose by 360 percent in the first three months of the conflict. And the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, reported complaints of discrimination and hate crimes rose by nearly 180 percent during the final quarter of last year, compared to the same period a year earlier.
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