A Michigan school district has reached a settlement agreement with a Palestinian-American student who filed a lawsuit after being confronted by a teacher for not participating in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Plymouth-Canton school district will provide constitutional rights training to its staff and an insurance company will pay $10,000 to Danielle Khalaf and her father as part of the resolution, court documents show.
While the district avoided admitting wrongdoing, Superintendent Monica Merritt commended Danielle for her bravery in coming forward about what happened.
“Our mission is to foster a school environment that is safe, respectful and welcoming for all,” Merritt stated on Friday.
The controversy began in January 2025 when Danielle, who comes from a Palestinian family, chose not to participate in the pledge ceremony for three consecutive days to protest American backing of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Court documents indicate her teacher criticized her decision and questioned her respect for the country.
The educator allegedly told her, “Since you live in this country and enjoy its freedom, if you don’t like it, you should go back to your country,” the legal filing states.
The incident caused Danielle to experience psychological distress, including sleep disturbances and damaged relationships with classmates, according to the lawsuit.
“It was terrifying at times, scary to face a teacher and overwhelming with the attention that came with the publicity. But it taught me the importance of speaking up for what I believe is right,” Danielle explained in a Thursday statement issued through the American Civil Liberties Union and Arab American Civil Rights League.
Census data shows Michigan ranks second nationally in residents with Middle Eastern or North African heritage, with over 300,000 people, trailing only California.
Under the settlement terms, the school district must also expunge any records from Danielle’s file that suggest her protest violated district rules.
