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24 The Courier sun • july 7, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com OUTRAGE OVER SOUTH OZONE PARK SCHOOL MURAL DEPICTING PRINCIPAL AS HINDU GODDESS By Anthony Giudice agiudice@qnscom/@A_GiudiceReport A mural at a middle school in South Ozone Park is creating a major controversy. A mural, which was hanging above the rear exercise lot at Junior High School 226, located at 121- 10 Rockaway Blvd., depicted the school’s principal Rushell White as a six-armed Hindu goddess, Daily News first reported. The representation of White as a Hindu deity has angered many parents, students and staff at the school, and across the nation as well as Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, who has asked that Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Education (DOE) Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina to apologize for the offensive mural in a statement he made from Nevada. “Hindu goddesses were highly revered in Hinduism and were meant to be worshiped in temples or home shrines and not to be used indecorously or thrown around loosely in reimagined versions for dramatic effects in a public school premises; which reportedly had considerable number of Hindu students,” Zed said in his statement. Zed noted that Hinduism was the oldest and third-largest religion of the world, with about 1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought and “it should not be taken frivolously. No faith, larger or smaller, should be ridiculed at,” he said. According to DOE, the mural was part of a student-led art project inspired by, and completed with, the school’s arts residency. An allegation regarding the mural has been referred for investigation and it was taken down by the principal in consultation with the superintendent on June 27. “We encourage artwork and expression that is inclusive and respectful of all communities, and the school has taken down this mural,” said DOE spokesperson Devora Kaye. “Ensuring our schools are inclusive and respectful environments is a high priority of this administration,” added Austin Finan, spokesman at City Hall. “This student-painted mural has since been removed.” The Courier has reached out to JHS 226 and is currently awaiting a response. Image: Wikimedia Commons Hindu Goddess Kali similar to the one that middle schoolers painted on a mural at their school THE ART OF ELDER LAW For more than 30 years the elder law firm of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates has been providing New Yorkers with legal solutions that protect, relieve and endure for generations. Our dedicated attorneys are skilled in the art of giving legal advice and are accomplished in elder law, Medicaid eligibility, estate planning, trusts, estate mediation, wills, asset protection, guardianships, probate and most issues associated with the challenges of aging. Our distinguished reputation is based on a commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards and our core values of honesty, integrity, and excellence. “We won’t settle for anything less”. 1-877- ELDER LAW 1-877-ESTATES Queens • Long Island • Manhattan • Brooklyn ATTORNEY ADVERTISING


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