A Hunter College associate professor is facing widespread condemnation and calls for her dismissal after racist remarks she made during a virtual public school meeting were captured on a live microphone and shared widely on social media. The incident, which occurred on 10 February during a Community Education Council District 3 Zoom meeting about the possible closure of several Upper West Side schools, has since drawn responses from civic officials, school administrators, and online petitioners demanding accountability.

The remarks were made while an eighth-grade student from the Community Action School —whose student body is predominantly Black and Latino—was testifying about not wanting to lose her school. As the child spoke, a voice later identified as that of Allyson Friedman was heard saying: 'They're too dumb to know they're in a bad school. It's like, if you train a Black person well enough, they'll know to use the back door—you don't have to tell them anymore.' Participants on the Zoom call reacted with visible shock, and a moderator swiftly intervened: 'Allyson Friedman, what you're saying is absolutely hearable; you've got to stop.'

Who Is Allyson Friedman?

According to her profile on Hunter College's official website, Friedman is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, specialising in cellular neurophysiology. She holds a PhD from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine of New York University, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and earned her undergraduate degree from Barnard College at Columbia University. Her research focuses on the neural circuits that shape social behaviour, with a particular interest in mood and anxiety disorders. Friedman was also attending the meeting in her capacity as a parent of a pupil at the Centre School, one of several Upper West Side schools under consideration for relocation or closure by the Department of Education.

Two separate attendees provided tips to iLovetheUpperWestSide, both identifying Friedman as the speaker. One attendee stated that Friedman 'insinuated that students of colour couldn't learn as well as white students' and suggested 'they would end up being cleaning people when they grow up.'

Hunter College
Hunter College said it is reviewing the remarks under its conduct and nondiscrimination policies, calling them ‘abhorrent’ and reaffirming its commitment to an inclusive environment.

Her Explanation and Apology

Friedman later came forward to acknowledge she was the person heard on the recording. In a statement, she said she had been attempting to explain the concept of systemic racism to her daughter, who was with her during the meeting, referencing what she described as a historical example. She said that 'due to an inadvertent unmute, part of that conversation was captured' and that the remarks 'were not directed at the student speaker and they do not reflect my beliefs or values.'

In a fuller public apology posted on X, Friedman said: 'Regardless of context, my words were wrong and caused real harm. I take full responsibility for their impact, and I am deeply sorry to the students, families, educators, and community members who were hurt.'

Institutional and Political Backlash

Hunter College confirmed it is reviewing the matter under its 'applicable conduct and nondiscrimination policies', describing the remarks as 'abhorrent'. The college stated: 'We stand firm in our enduring commitment to sustain an inclusive educational environment that is free of discrimination of any kind, in which people of all identities will feel welcome and can thrive.'

District 3 Interim Superintendent Dr Reginald Higgins addressed the incident in a written communication to the community on 18 February, condemning the statements as 'racially offensive and rooted in anti-Blackness.' He wrote that the remarks 'demeaned an entire predominantly Black and Latinx school community, disrespected the student presenter, and caused real harm to those present.' Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal described the comments as 'outrageous', saying they had no place in civic discourse, while New York City Council member Rita Joseph called them 'blatantly racist and harmful.'

A Change.org petition titled 'Fire Hunter College Professor Allyson Friedman For Racist Remarks' has also been circulating online, with supporters arguing that those who make such remarks should not hold positions of authority over students. CEC District 3 has announced that a formal statement on the incident will be discussed and voted on at its next public meeting on 3 March, at the Joan of Arc Building, 154 West 93rd Street.

The incident cuts to the heart of a long-standing concern about racial bias in educational spaces, particularly in settings where predominantly Black and Latino students are already fighting for the survival of their schools. That the remarks were made while a child was actively addressing those very concerns makes the episode all the more damaging — not only to the students directly affected but to public trust in the adults entrusted with their welfare.

Originally published on IBTimes UK