Serving Roslyn, East Hills, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Old Westbury and North Hills
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Friday, July 9, 2021
Vol. 9, No. 28
LIVING 50 PLUS
PORT NURSE HONORED BY BIDEN
MAJOR CRIME DECREASES
PAGE 21-28
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EWSD defends handling of grad’s speech
COUNTY CHAMPS
Responds in heated discussion about comments about Palestinians BY S A M U E L E PETRUCCELLI Facing criticism over a student’s graduation speech that set off a furor by referring to the violence between Israelis and Palestinians as ethnic cleansing, the East Williston Board of Education declined to address the contents of the speech. But at a public meeting on Tuesday, the board president, Mark Kamberg, said the district was safe and welcoming for all races and ethnicities. The student who gave the speech on June 20, Huda Ayaz, was confronted by an adult who shouted “go back to Pakistan” at the commencement ceremony, according to Ahmed M. Mohamed, legal director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Members of the public got the chance to speak to trustees during a near hour-long session of open time, which at times took a
combative tone and led people to speak at one another rather than address the trustees. After speaking, one adult made an inappropriate hand gesture directed at Mohamed. Though speaking at board meetings is usually restricted to district residents, an exception was made to allow all members of the public to offer comments. Before the first session of open time, Kamberg offered a statement on behalf of the district in response to what he called demands to either condemn or condone the contents of Ayaz’s speech at the Wheatley School’s graduation. “The Board of Education will refrain from addressing the content of Huda Ayaz’s speech as this issue is beyond the scope of its jurisdiction and further embroils the district in controversial world political issues,” Kamberg said. “The Board of Education categorically rejects any reports of insinuating Continued on Page 35
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROSLYN SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Roslyn varsity boys track and field team placed first in the Nassau County championship in June.
2 Jersey teens charged in Heights car theft BY R OB E RT PELAEZ
cording to the Nassau County Police Department. Officials said a 50-year-old Two New Jersey juve- man from Syosset, whose name niles were arrested in Roslyn was not disclosed by police, Heights in connection with a reported his $160,0000 gray stolen vehicle on Saturday, ac- Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG sto-
len from his home on Saturday before 5 p.m. After the vehicle was reported stolen, the car’s navigation system was activated, officials said. According to a police news Continued on Page 35
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