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Adi Vaxman, a mother of three who's lived in Fair Lawn the past 14 years, told Daily Voice that parents in the district want to show school officials how much they appreciate them "doing their job to protect our children amid the unjust bashing" they've taken over Bethany Koval.
Koval, 16, raised concerns after calling a classmate who unfollowed her on Twitter because of her views "that pro-Israel girl from my school" and offering to give the student's name to a sympathizer, raising fears of bullying.
The incident "put Fair Lawn under a microscope," Vaxman said. "We are now targeted by many malicious groups and the school administration is being attacked by the biased, or uninformed, media for trying to silence a student's freedom of speech."
Schools Supt. Bruce Watson said Thursday that district officials "are obligated by New Jersey's anti-bullying statute -- one of the strictest in the nation -- to investigate" the allegation that Koval put the other student in danger.
The probe "is focused solely on the factors we are required to apply by law and not upon any political opinions expressed by any pupils,"he said.
SEE: Fair Lawn Schools Chief: Girl Questioned Under NJ Law In Anti-Israel Tweets
"Fair Lawn used to be a safe place for my family," Vaxman told Daily Voice. "Seeing different faiths work so well together and respected by one another used to be the best thing about this town. I never feared for my or my children's safety and I know they are receiving the best education."
"As a parent, I fully support the school for doing the best that they can to keep our children safe from harm, on and off school grounds," Vaxman added. "I think we parents have a duty to show our support and not allow the school staff to be persecuted by the media for simply attempting to protect our children."
The group will gather at 2 p.m. in front of the high school.
MORE: Fair Lawn Supports The FLHS Administration
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