The suspension of a student at Royal West Academy, part of the English Montreal School Board (EMSB), for posting social media content critical of Israel has reignited debates about freedom of expression and institutional neutrality in Montreal’s public schools.

At the center of the controversy is Mike Cohen, EMSB spokesperson and active public supporter of Israel, drawing scrutiny from parents, students, and human rights organizations.

The Suspension That Sparked Controversy

The student posted on her private Instagram account:

“Fuck Israel. Holy shit.”

Although the post occurred outside school hours, Royal West Academy imposed a one-day in-school suspension.

Mike Cohen, EMSB spokesperson, stated that the principal acted “in accordance with the regulations, as the student had used an expletive.”

Legal experts and civil rights advocates have warned that the measure could violate political freedom of expression, particularly regarding opinions on Palestine.

Partial Communications and Parent Complaints

Following Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7, 2023, EMSB released a statement on October 12, expressing solidarity with Israel without mentioning Palestinian victims in Gaza.

Parents of Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab students criticized the message as one-sided. One parent told Global News:

“This kind of communication creates division in our community. How can I safely send my children to an institution that does not recognize all victims?”

As a result of public pressure, EMSB issued a second statement on October 16, 2023, expressing “profound sadness at the loss of innocent lives in both Israel and Gaza.”

During the controversy, Cohen justified the first statement:

“Our original focus was strictly on the terrorist attack by Hamas… we didn’t want to slight anyone.”

Parents also alleged that critical comments on EMSB social media posts were removed. Cohen replied that only comments deemed “defamatory” were deleted.

Westmount High: Another Controversy

In December 2022, Westmount High School, another EMSB school, invited a speaker during a Holocaust education session who made strongly pro-Israel statements, dismissing allegations of abuses against Palestinians as “a bunch of crap.”

The organization Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) sent an official letter to EMSB, noting that Cohen had downplayed the episode as “the speaker’s opinion.”
The letter highlighted the lack of context and balance, and demanded that Palestinian rights and realities be addressed in such educational activities.

A Pattern of Institutional Bias?

These episodes — the Royal West suspension, the October 2023 statements, and the Westmount controversy — suggest a concerning pattern:

Institutional support for pro-Israel narratives
Possible indirect sanctioning of pro-Palestinian students

While Cohen does not directly decide disciplinary actions, his role as EMSB spokesperson and public representativemakes him visible and associated with these decisions, creating a perception of bias among parents and students.

Freedom of Expression and Safe Spaces

Parents and students are calling for an independent review of EMSB communication and discipline policies, to ensure that all voices — Jewish, Palestinian, or otherwise — can be heard without fear of retaliation.

“How can schools ensure a pluralistic and inclusive environment if pro-Palestinian expressions feel censored or discouraged?”

Conclusion

The Royal West Academy suspension is not an isolated incident. It is a symptom of a crisis of neutrality and trustwithin EMSB.

While the board and its spokesperson defend the action as regulatory, students, families, and human rights groups continue to question the impartiality of its communications and the fairness of its discipline.

The central question remains:

How can public education be truly inclusive when the institution’s spokesperson is publicly aligned with a specific international political position?

References

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