Wednesday, July 5, 2006
There's an excellent article in The Valley Patriot -- a paper distributed in nine communities north of Boston -- exposing Ron Francis, the Andover High School physics teacher who supports Hamas and its goal of destroying Israel. They have picked up some of my photos for the article. The article quotes a Green-Rainbow Party member disgruntled with the dark alley Francis and his followers have taken the GRP, as well as a former student.
“Ron Francis’ politics, statements and actions are anti-Semitic,†says Eric Danis, a graduate of Andover High School. “Both his Somerville Divestment Project and the Green-Rainbow Party are suggesting boycotting and divesting from only one country in the entire world - the Jewish state of Israel,†adds Danis.
The controversy behind Francis began when he posted a letter on the Web site of the Somerville Divestment Project, defending the terrorist group Hamas and stating that Israel commits far more terrorist activities than the Palestinians. The letter was titled “Media Bias on Hamas,†where Francis says that the silver lining was with Hamas’ electoral victory. Francis also calls for “One Palestine.â€
The divestment project was intended to convince the city of Somerville to stop investing in Israeli bonds. The project failed, but Francis continues to place himself in leadership positions like becoming co-chair of the Green-Rainbow Party, to continue his fight against Jews and Israel.
INVESTIGATE FRANCIS/Classroom Credit for Spreading Hatred
A letter written June 20th to David Driscoll, Commissioner of Education, by Concerned Citizens from Somerville, asked that an investigation be held. They specifically refer to literature from Francis’ Somerville Divestment Project and the Green-Rainbow Party’s “anti-Jewish articles and event notices which are shocking in their blatant incitement to Jew-hatred.†The letter and a packet of information were also sent to the Andover School Committee and Andover school administrators.
The letter begins: “As residents of Somerville, we are all too familiar with the hate-filled anti-Semitic propaganda that Mr. Francis and his organization (the Somerville Divestment Project) injected into our community.â€
Francis recently sent an e-mail to members of the Green-Rainbow Party Administrative Committee to arrange for Andover High School students to receive academic credit for serving as interns with the Green-Rainbow Party. So far, the Andover School Committee is not investigating this matter. Not surprisingly, the Andover Teachers’ Union president, Tom Meyers, is defending Francis.
Francis admitted in another Andover Townsman article that he paid four Andover students to canvas in Somerville for the Somerville Divestment Project...
Much more, here.
As far as I am aware, Andover parents remain silent, content to utilize Francis's connections (he's an MIT grad) for their own kids while he has exported his anti-Jewish activities to other towns. At the same time, they continue to pay his salary. Perhaps now that it is being exposed that he has been indoctrinating some of the kids in Andover as well, they will recognize their responsibility to speak up.
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Prediction: The parents will do nothing. Anti-Israel/anti-Semitic sentiments are perfectly acceptable, if not outright encouraged, in today's society.
I hope Andover acts before Francis is allowed to coerce more kids into accepting his anti-Semitic opinions.
Eric Danis
I am an Andover High School graduate of the 2005 class and completed 2 courses with Dr. Francis. He has been hands down the most influential teacher I have ever had and NEVER (not even once!) pushed any of his views on students while I was in his classes. In fact, he is a very humble man who is extremely passionate about his job. Unfortunately, Dr. Francis has recently left AHS. Dr. Francis is one of the most motivational men I've met, so I would suggest that you not slander him because I am assuming you do not know the man or all of the good he has done for so many students.
G.S, but OUTSIDE the classroom, your esteemed Dr. is a True Believer of dhimmitude. His Wheels of Jihad traveling circus was a reflection of his true views.
And you, being a naive toady, just lapped it up.
Well, Gregory, the world doesn't revolve around you. Some Somerville people were getting sick of waking up to the spectacle of Ron's Jew-hating friends canvasing their neighborhoods, and apparently Andover was none-too-please with his bringing the same show to their own town, either.