Event Cancellation Amid Controversy Over Speaker’s Past Remarks
At the Broward County School Board meeting on August 25, 2026, multiple public commenters discussed schools affected by past or potential closures. Broward County Public Schools has canceled an upcoming event featuring Vashti Harrison, a New York Times best-selling author. The decision followed criticism over a 2024 post where Harrison criticized Israel and called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Harrison, known for children’s books celebrating Black history and self-love, was set to appear at a district-sponsored parent event at the African American Research Library & Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale on September 17. However, Broward County Public Schools shared on social media that they understood concerns regarding the speaker’s selection and were unware of her previous statements. Consequently, the district canceled the event and related field trips, planning to reschedule with a different speaker.
The canceled event, still listed on the district calendar, served as an orientation for Parent Training Academy. This series of workshops aimed to guide parents in assisting their children’s learning. Event materials highlighted Harrison as an inspiring author of children’s books, encouraging young minds to dream and see themselves in stories.
Harrison’s picture book “Big,” illustrating a young Black girl’s journey to self-love, won the 2024 Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King honor for writing and illustrations. Attempts to reach Harrison for comment were unsuccessful.
The cancellation came after a blog post by Kevin Deutsch highlighted Harrison’s antizionist advocacy, focusing on her support for a Gaza ceasefire. Deutsch’s blog, “After October 7,” mentioned Harrison’s 2024 Instagram post, noting her role among 7,000 individuals who signed a letter to President Joe Biden for a ceasefire.
The letter criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza following Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 Israeli civilian deaths. Signed by thousands from the children’s publishing community, the letter condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza, drawing attention to the high child casualties. #Kidlit4ceasefire, a movement associated with the letter, described the situation in Gaza as genocide, a claim disputed by many Jewish Zionist groups.
“These attacks have resulted in more than 31,000 Palestinians killed. 12,000 of these victims are children of a median reported age of five years old. Thousands more Palestinian children still remain buried in rubble and are unaccounted for,”
The story was produced with financial backing from Trish and Dan Bell, and donors from South Florida’s Jewish and Muslim communities. The Miami Herald, which retains full editorial control, originally published this story on September 4, 2026, at 4:07 PM.
Lauren Costantino, a religion reporter for the Herald, works with support from Trish and Dan Bell, and donors from the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities. Since joining the Herald in 2021, Costantino has engaged new audiences through social media, podcasts, and community projects. She resides in Miami Beach with her cocker spaniel, Oliver.