Suburban Detroit School Settles Pledge of Allegiance Lawsuit

District agrees to First Amendment training after Palestinian student faced teacher humiliation.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:18am

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A suburban Detroit school district has agreed to provide First Amendment training to its staff and pay $10,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a Palestinian-American student who said a teacher humiliated her for refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in protest of U.S. support for Israel's war in Gaza.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions around the Pledge of Allegiance and First Amendment rights in schools, particularly for students from minority backgrounds who may have political disagreements with U.S. foreign policy.

The details

Danielle Khalaf, a student at a Plymouth-Canton district school, declined to recite the Pledge of Allegiance over three days in January 2025. Her teacher admonished her, telling Danielle she was being disrespectful and should 'go back to your country' if she didn't like living in the U.S. Danielle suffered emotional distress, including nightmares and strained friendships, due to the incident.

  • Danielle Khalaf refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance over three days in January 2025.
  • The lawsuit was filed shortly after the January 2025 incident.

The players

Danielle Khalaf

A Palestinian-American student who refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in protest of U.S. support for Israel's war in Gaza.

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

The suburban Detroit school district that settled the lawsuit with Danielle Khalaf.

Monica Merritt

The superintendent of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools, who praised Danielle for speaking up about the incident.

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What they’re saying

“'Since you live in this country and enjoy its freedom, if you don't like it, you should go back to your country,'”

— Danielle Khalaf's teacher

“'It was terrifying at times, scary to face a teacher and overwhelming with the attention that came with the publicity. But it taught me the importance of speaking up for what I believe is right,'”

— Danielle Khalaf

What’s next

The school district will remove anything from Danielle's file that suggests her actions violated school policy.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges schools face in balancing students' First Amendment rights with maintaining order and respect in the classroom, especially when political disagreements intersect with issues of race, ethnicity, and foreign policy.