PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN — A suburban Detroit school district has settled a federal lawsuit with a 14-year-old student who refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, citing political concerns related to U.S. foreign policy.
The case involved Danielle Khalaf, a student at East Middle School, who remained seated during the pledge in early 2025. According to the lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Michigan and the Arab American Civil Rights League, a teacher reprimanded her and allegedly told her to “go back to your country” if she disagreed.
Under the settlement, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools agreed to provide staff training on First Amendment rights, diversity, and sensitivity. The district will also remove any disciplinary references from the student’s record, provide support services if needed, and issue a $10,000 insurance payment tied to the case while denying wrongdoing.
District officials said the agreement allows all parties to move forward and reaffirmed their commitment to a respectful school environment. Khalaf said the experience was difficult but reinforced her belief in speaking out.
Sources:
- CBS News – MBFC Rating
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