The Jersey City Board of Education (BOE) voted to ban 8th District congressional candidate Mussab Ali from school property last night, citing that they believed he organized a student protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“We recognize many of our students feel deeply passionate about current events, including recent concerns around Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Norma Fernandez said during the meeting.
“While we respect our student’s First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful expression, our primary responsibility is to ensure the safety, security, and academic progress of every child in our care. When students leave buildings or grounds without authorization, it creates a significant safety risk.”
She continued that students who leave class or school grounds without a parent or guardian will receive discipline for an unexcused absence, taking a shot at Ali without saying his name.
“Unfortunately, political figures and political candidates have profiled our students and encouraged their passion at the expense of their academic success and safety,” Fernandez declared, claiming that the walkout plans “originated outside our student body.”
From there, Board Vice President Dejon Morris made a motion to strengthen the district’s code of conduct and ban Ali, a former school board president, from all public schools until further notice.
“We do realize our scholars have the right to exercise their right to free speech and demonstrate. However, we have a responsibility with the board of Education to … instill discipline and respect,” he expressed.
“… Former President Ali was in direct violation of the code of conduct and rules of regulation for the board of education.”
He further stated that the BOE would have been liable if any of the students were hurt or injured in any way, adding that he will be sent a cease and desist letter from the district as well.
Trustee Afaf Muhammad acknowledged the serious nature of ICE detaining residents, but also noted that the event could have taken place when school was not in session.
“The protests could have been done after school or on the weekend,” she said.
“That was encouraged. I personally communicated that to Mr. Ali. He didn’t think it would have the same impact as the walkout,” Board President Noemi Velazquez exclaimed.
Trustee Dr. Matthew Schneider said he would not vote on the resolution since he didn’t believe there was enough evidence that someone else influenced students, drawing a loud reaction from the audience.
That prompted Velazquez to ask the crowd not to yell out.
“I support the letter Dr. Fernandez did put out … I would hate to take away the work students put into it and… give someone else the credit,” Trustee Tia Rezabala said, drawing applause when she said she would vote no.
“ … There’s evidence that came from City Hall stating that Mr. Ali was the organizer of the event. There was also social media evidence … his group put together to try to get our students to come out,” Morris replied.
He said the district has previously supported walkouts at a secure location, organized properly, which he said he supports, but that isn’t what happened here.
“ … I take offense … You’re confused!” Morris shouted at Rezabala.
“You say I’m confused?! That’s disrespectful!” Rezabala shouted back.
“We’re not going to have a show here!” Velazquez declared, trying to het the meeting back on track.
After another short back and forth between Morris and Rezabala, Trustee Natalia Ioffe weighed in.
“ … Several of us were acquainted with social media posts that false promises were given by Mr. Ali to the students that there would be no consequences … Clearly, consequences were written,” she asserted.
Trustee Lorenzo Richardson called for an investigation into the matter, while Velazquez said she had multiple conversations with Ali trying to discourage him to no avail.
The resolution was approved 6-3, with Schneider, Rezabala, and Richardson voting no to boos from the audience.
Ali denied any involvement with organizing last Friday’s march in a lengthy post on X this morning.
“Last night, the Board of Education voted to ban me from all district property following a student-led walkout regarding ICE. The facts are straightforward. I did not organize the walkout. I have evidence confirming that. At no point during the protest was I on school property. Students organized themselves,” he wrote.
“For generations, student walkouts have been part of American civic life. From the civil rights era to movements addressing gun violence and climate change, young people have exercised their constitutional right to peaceful expression. Supporting the First Amendment is not the same as encouraging disruption. We can uphold school safety and constitutional freedoms at the same time.”
When asked about an email being circulated that had Ali as a contact person for the rally, he still insisted it was 100 percent student organized.
“They let me know the time, my only role was to provide safety … I reached out to the police department to make sure the students were safe,” Ali told HCV over the phone.
He also stated that the event organizers were careful not to put their names on any materials so that they would avoid suspension, as well as claiming he posted images on social media pointing to the organic leadership.
“We should be celebrating young people exercise their rights,” he added.
 banned former BOE President and congressional candidate Mussab Ali from school property after they believed he organized a student protest against ICE last week.){kind=link}
Ali should get the ACLU to file a lawsuit on his behalf. This has all the makings of a national news story.
Glad the JC top school students did not participate in this walkout. As a student, there are whole a lot more important things to worry about than, say, politics. Sure, have your opinion but keep it to yourself and study. Or s/he is going to become someone like Ali or folks at JC BOE, the under-educated officials.
I’m absolutely worried about how my alma mater will have to deal with the fact that their own voices were shut down by the BOE. Sure, they’re “too young” and need to “keep it to themselves and study”, but this is the same rhetoric that discourages & censors the youth from knowing what’s going on in their own society, especially now with a president who is known for being a dangerous and unnecessary asshole. Mind you, the school that got their protest shutdown is a MINORITY-MAJORITY HIGH SCHOOL (Asians, to be exact). I really hope that the students contacted ACLU about this because if this is the kind of shit we want to push down our kids’ throats, then I’m more than happy to move districts or states.