Fifth Graders’ Controversial Multicultural Day Stuns Parents and Police

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Fifth graders at PS 075 in Manhattan performed a controversial skit depicting police violence and social justice themes during a school Multicultural Day, sparking backlash from parents and police officers who criticized the content as politically charged and inappropriate for the age group. The event has intensified calls for increased parental notification and oversight of the school's curriculum, amid broader concerns about other progressive programs and policies implemented under the current administration.

Fifth graders at PS 075, an elementary school on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, staged a performance during a June 11 Multicultural Day event that drew sharp criticism from some parents, law enforcement officials, and community members. The students enacted a controversial portrayal of police violence that included pantomiming being shot, prompting accusations of political indoctrination.

During the auditorium presentation, each grade highlighted a different cultural theme. After fourth-graders recited Native American poetry, the fifth graders performed to the song “Glory” by John Legend and rapper Common, which references the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown by Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, an event that sparked nationwide Black Lives Matter protests. At one point, the children simultaneously collapsed onto the stage as if shot, while at another moment they took a knee in a gesture associated with Colin Kaepernick’s protest during the national anthem in 2016.

At the conclusion of the performance, students marched on stage carrying signs with messages including “ICE Out,” “Respect LGBTQIA+,” “Terrorism has no religion,” and “No place for antisemitism.” The imagery and themes raised concerns among local law enforcement and some parents, who deemed the content inappropriate for children in the fifth grade.

An NYPD officer described the act as “beyond inappropriate” and “outrageous,” calling it political exploitation rather than education. Some parents expressed frustration that the school did not provide prior notice or an opt-out option for such content.

According to a source within the school, teacher Shahreen Karim, who chairs the multicultural committee and has been with PS 075 since 2012, was responsible for organizing the performance. The source also cited Principal George Georgilakis, who earned $195,401 in 2025, as supportive of what has been characterized as “hyper-woke policies” that were not present before his tenure.

The school offers other programs that have raised parental concerns, including a “Rainbow Room” dedicated to LGBTQ+ content accessible to students from kindergarten through fifth grade without requiring parental consent. Additionally, PS 075 maintains an all-gender bathroom which, according to some parents, has led to incidents of harassment. The school also hosted a book reading by transgender author Kyle Lukoff for second graders in May, an event that reportedly took place without informing parents in advance.

Administrators have not publicly commented on the controversy, while some community members have called for greater transparency and parental involvement in curriculum decisions involving sensitive cultural and political topics.