Brooklyn principal continues astonishing tirade after being accused of letting students learn remotely so her school could protect migrants during the storm
The principal of a Brooklyn high school who forced children to learn from home so 2,000 migrants could move in has criticized parents who criticized the decision.
“How dare anyone say I don't care about kids,” James Madison High School Principal Jodie Cohen told parents on a Zoom call Tuesday: reported the New York Post.
Parents were outraged after their children were ordered to learn from home Thursday as migrants were evacuated from Floyd Bennett Field due to a heavy rainstorm. A day later, on Friday, the students returned to the school building.
“I don't understand how people who never come on a Zoom like this can take an opportunity like this evening to throw mud,” Cohen said, according to the Post.
Cohen told parents on the call that she made the decision earlier this week to move the children to remote learning because she did not know when classrooms would be ready again after the migrants were bused back to their shelter.
James Madison High School principal Jodie Cohen has hit back at parents who criticized her decision to keep children learning from home
Students at James Madison High School in Brooklyn were forced to learn from home after a last-minute decision allowed the migrants – from the southern border – to sleep inside the school due to harsh weather conditions outside
Shocking images showed hundreds of asylum seekers sleeping on the floor of the school's auditorium.
Clips obtained by DailyMail.com show the groups of migrants, young and old, taking up space in the school's main room, surrounded by their belongings.
Alina, a mother of two children in high school, was one of several parents, grandparents and local politicians who protested outside the facility on Wednesday.
She told DailyMail.com: 'My child texted me around 1pm saying school is out tomorrow.
'They receive distance learning, because the migrants sleep in the auditorium and gym.
'It was crazy. We are not against immigrants, but this is illegal. This illegal crossing of the border and the like has consequences for all of us. And the worst part is that it affects our children.'
The concerned mother added: “The border must be closed. We should not allow illegal immigrants to come to a country like this.
'And our children are affected because education is already at the lowest level. From previous years' remote learning, it appears that this was not the best for us.
Shocking footage has shown hundreds of asylum seekers sleeping on the floor of a Brooklyn school auditorium after children were kicked out of classes so 2,000 migrants could move in.
Clips obtained by DailyMail.com show the groups of migrants, young and old, taking up space in the school's main room, surrounded by their belongings
Many parents, grandparents and local politicians protest outside the school
Connie Donahue (left), who has two grandchildren at school, said at the protest: “I'm furious. I'm absolutely livid'
“I don't want my children to participate in any activity tonight. I don't want that, because I don't believe the school will be sufficiently disinfected.'
Councilor Jamie Williams said outside the school: “I'm not the one to let them get away with it. We were on the ground from day one. From day one. We sat on the floor. So we have to ask that question at a higher scale level.
“We need answers from the federal government and all the powers that be. This isn't just one person's thing. Everyone who is elected has a responsibility to act.
'I can tell you as a parent. My daughter goes to James Madison. She's home. She logged in and they have to submit work that was missing.
“What we see here today is unprecedented.”
Connie Donahue, who has two grandchildren attending James Madison High School, said at the protest, “I'm furious. I'm absolutely furious.
“I am angry that I have to live in a city where priorities are so messed up and they are taking away our children's education, which has been compromised by Covid over the last three years.
'And they lose another day of education because there are other places to house the migrants. “I'm not saying you should leave them outside in the cold,” she added.
Adams looked at the gymnasium where the migrants slept on the floor. At 4:30 am they were returned to the shelter
Locals in Brooklyn gathered outside James Madison High School today
Many were told about the migrants at the last minute – noting that they are concerned about the sanitary situation as many of those camping at the school were previously homeless
Mirgants pick out clothes at Floyd Bennett Field
Officials feared Floyd Bennett Field would flood and sent the migrants to the school to sleep
Eric Adams, proud of the decision, visited the site Tuesday evening and then shared photos on X of him inspecting the gymnasium where the migrants would sleep.
The decision has outraged many New Yorkers, who say it is further evidence that Adams is prioritizing the thousands of migrants who have come to the city over taxpaying residents and their families.
When asked about the controversial decision, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the incident was “out of the ordinary.” [her] district” on Thursday when a reporter asked if she was comfortable with thousands of high school students in Brooklyn being kicked out this week to house migrants.
Ocasio-Cortez had previously criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, accusing them of “crimes against humanity” as the two GOP governors bused hundreds of migrants to Manhattan and Washington DC.
After she dismissed the question Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez said, “I think it's very clear here that the most important thing is that we find a facility that is suitable for these people.”
“I don't expect this to be a long-term solution, it shouldn't be a long-term solution,” Ocasio-Cortez added.