Here in New York, the ousted principal of the city’s first public Arabic-language school has spoken out for the first time. Debbie Almontaser was forced to resign from Khalil Gibran International Academy after she was quoted explaining that the word “intifada” literally means “shaking off” in Arabic. On Tuesday, Almontaser told a crowd gathered at City Hall that she had been forced out under pressure from Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the school’s chancellor. She said the school had been threatened with closure unless she resigned. She is now seeking to get her job back.

Debbie Almontaser: “While I have been a victim of a serious injustice, the far larger offense here has been to the Arab and Muslim communities of New York City. In the years since September 11th, our communities have been the object of the most vile and hateful attacks. The attacks on me are part of a larger campaign to intimidate and silence marginalized communities.”