AFN reported previously on the Muslim Student Association chapter at two high schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, recorded similar skits on video that promoted an upcoming meeting the group was having. In the skits, students who say they don't plan to attend have a bag placed over their head, hoisted over someone's shoulder, and 'kidnapped.'
The district said in a recent statement the video was 'traumatizing' to Jewish students and faculty due to events happening in the world.
AFN talked with Aaron Bandler, U.S. national correspondent for the Jewish News Syndicate.
"The videos are pretty horrendous. They are meant to be satire, but I think it's in very poor taste," states Bandler.
He points out that this was because they were mocking kidnappings.
“It's not too long ago that a bunch of Israelis, a bunch of Jews, were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th, and it's pretty sickening to watch those videos,” explains Bandler. “And so, the district says they're taking it seriously — as they should. And, you know, we'll ultimately see what happens."
He says that he doesn't want to “get inside their heads” and speculate what these students were thinking in doing this, but he said he would “like to think that it is just a matter of being insensitive.”
"I mean, these are high school kids after all, but in this day and age, you can't ever be too sure. That's why the school should take it seriously and take action," states Bandler.
Bandler says that one would think that this would violate student conduct, but for now it’s time to wait and see if the district will actually follow through on their words.
