During a meeting on August 25, 2026, public speakers voiced their concerns about school closures at the Broward County School Board meeting. In a separate decision, Broward County Public Schools canceled an event featuring New York Times best-selling author Vashti Harrison. The cancellation followed criticism of a 2024 post where Harrison spoke against Israel and advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Vashti Harrison is renowned for her children’s books that celebrate Black history and self-love. She was due to speak at the African American Research Library & Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale on September 17. However, Broward County Public Schools announced through a cryptic social media post that they had canceled the event due to concerns over Harrison’s past statements, which they were unaware of when selecting her.
The affected event, still listed on the district calendar, was scheduled to be part of the Parent Training Academy. This series of workshops guides parents on how to support their children’s education. Promotional materials highlighted Harrison’s achievements, including her role as a “New York Times bestselling author” who inspires children.
Notably, Harrison’s picture book “Big,” which narrates a young Black girl’s path to self-love, received the 2024 Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King honors for its writing and illustrations. Attempts to contact Harrison for her comments have not yet been successful.
A blog post by local journalist Kevin Deutsch brought attention to Harrison’s “antizionist advocacy.” In his blog “After October 7,” Deutsch focused on a 2024 Instagram post by Harrison, where she was among 7,000 signatories of a letter to President Joe Biden. The letter demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The letter criticized the Israeli government’s military actions in Gaza post-October 7, 2023, following attacks by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis. It described the Israeli operations as genocide, a term contested by many Jewish Zionist organizations.
Signatories of the letter, including prominent figures within the children’s publishing sector, highlighted the humanitarian toll, stating that over 31,000 Palestinians, including around 12,000 children, were casualties due to the conflict. The letter aligned with the #kidlit4ceasefire movement, which has continually drawn attention to the hostilities.
This report was developed with financial backing from Trish and Dan Bell, along with other contributors from South Florida’s Jewish and Muslim communities, and supported by the Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains complete editorial independence of the content.
Since 2021, Lauren Costantino, who authored this report, has been covering religious topics for the Miami Herald, supported by contributions from the same patrons. She brings experience in expanding audience engagement through various media channels and lives in Miami Beach.
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