Brampton principal reportedly absent following social media post on Israel-Hamas conflict

The principal of a Brampton school will be absent while the board investigates an alleged social media post he made related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

A screen capture of the now-deleted post by user @ward_rich made on Sunday reads, “Your headline rewritten for accuracy: Anti-Zionism has skyrocketed in the wake of the the (sic) Israel-led genocide in Palestine.”

The comment was made in response to a news story about the rise in antisemitism since the start of the conflict, and the account reportedly belongs to Richard Ward, who is listed as principal at Tribune Drive Public School in Brampton.

The board says the principal will not be at the school and that “this matter is currently under investigation,” according to The Canadian Jewish News.

“I can confirm that this matter is currently under investigation, and in the meantime this individual will not be at the school,” the Peel District School Board (PDSB) reportedly said in a statement.

The news story that prompted the comment examined the increase of incidents of hatred targeting Jews since the beginning of the war, including at schools in Toronto. User @AntisemitisimCA, which says it documents incidents of antisemitism in Canada, called out the posts on social media.

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Peel – November 12 – in response to an article that highlights antisemitic incidents such as shootings of Jewish schools, @PeelSchools Principal says “Your headline rewritten for accuracy: Anti-Zionism has skyrocketed in the wake of the the Israel-led genocide in Palestine.” pic.twitter.com/eyKMlS7LqI

— Documenting Antisemitism (@AntisemitismCA) November 12, 2023

Politicians and universities have faced backlash for public statements following Hamas’ surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, including controversial Hamilton MPP Sarah Jama.

The PDSB released a statement in the wake of Hamas’ attack and said it is “committed to nurturing inclusive and identity-affirming spaces where the diversity and humanity of all students, staff and communities are centred.”

“We understand these events may cause a variety of reactions, emotions and responses among staff, students, and families. It is important to be aware that staff and students may express their feelings in a variety of ways,” the statement reads.

Attempts to contact Ward for comment were not returned.