Grosse Pointe South principal holds parent meeting about political tensions

GROSSE POINTE, Mich. (WJBK) - The school district said it was unaware of any bullying that happened at Grosse Pointe South High School after the election.

But the principal says students told him about hurtful statements and actions directed towards them Wednesday. His announcement at the end of school that day rubbed some students and parents the wrong way.

But if the crowd at a school board meeting Monday night was any indication, there may be far more in his corner.

A standing ovation after parents heard Principal Mousa Hamka's address to high school students in an effort to quell the growing tensions surrounding the election

"Some kids were more respectful about it," said student Liam Walsh. "Then some students were very much rubbing it in their face."

"I was pushed the day after the election by a boy," said a female student. "He supported the Republican candidate and I supported the Democratic candidate."

In his announcement Hamka called for unity and urged students to engage in tough but respectful conversations about race, civil rights and immigration.

He also vowed to stand up for ethnic and religious minorities at the school as well as disabled and LGBTQ students.

"There's a room full of parents in here that were outraged when their daughter and sons came home," said Anne Vanker, who was one of them. "The forum is not to give your biased political viewpoint for the whole school."

"I was at peace to hear when my son came home from high school and told me the principal was being proactive," said Amanda Roraff. "And that he was trying to rally the children to work together to talk to each other and understand this is a safe place."

Roraff is just one of many parents in Hamka's corner. All of them heard the entirety of his address for the first time at Monday night's school board meeting.

"It was more balanced a statement than had been reported back to me," said a parent. "I just don't feel it was right to talk about those political things in general. Let's talk about taking care of all of our kids."

"I think it gives you some encouragement that we have competent people who are in charge trying to settle things," said parent Greg Bowens. "And make sure we treat each other with dignity and respect."

But India Dinges says that message clearly did not go over well with some of her classmates.

"On Friday I was in Astronomy class and two of my classmates were talking about African-American students need to go back to Africa."

Some parents tell FOX 2 there was talk of trying to get the principal fired for his remarks last week but the superintendent of Grosse Pointe schools says his job is not in jeopardy.