Reactions vary to Veterans Day speaker

Debate continued Tuesday in Ottawa Hills about a recent controversial guest speaker at the school district, as community members expressed concern at a school board meeting about the man and board members apologized and said they wanted continued dialogue.

Conservative commentator and author Nick Adams, who runs the nonprofit Foundation for Liberty and American Greatness, spoke Nov. 9 to junior and senior high school students and fourth through sixth graders for a Veterans Day event. The event was coordinated by alumni of the district, not the district. Administrators said they will now review the selection process for public speakers.

Some parents in the district have criticized Adams’ appearance because of his history of what they described as racist, xenophobic, and inflammatory commentary.

Speakers Tuesday, in general, said they supported presenting diverse views for students to consider, but that those views shouldn’t include extremists. Nadia Elwardany said inviting Adams to speak legitimized his views, and said he wasn’t apolitical.

“This man had nothing to do with being a patriot, he had nothing to do with being a veteran, and he had no business being in this school,” she said.

Sarah Anjum said that those critical of the district’s actions were not enemies of the school system, and were there to support its mission. She found Adams’ appearance at the school offensive, but also wanted to keep dialogue going.

Not everyone objected to the presentation. Wendy Greeley said her daughter liked Adams’ event, and raised as an equivalent another recent presentation where the speaker presented information about racial discrimination in the United States.