Event with Best-Selling Author Canceled Amid Controversy Over Past Comments

At the Broward County School Board meeting on August 25, 2026, multiple public commenters expressed concerns about school closures. Concurrently, Broward County Public Schools canceled an event featuring Vashti Harrison, a New York Times best-selling author known for children’s books on Black history and self-love. Harrison was set to speak at the district-sponsored Parent Training Academy event on September 17 at the African American Research Library & Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale.

The district issued a statement via social media, acknowledging concerns over the speaker selection and noting they were unaware of Harrison’s past statements at the time of selection. The statement implied discontent stemming from a 2024 post by Harrison that criticized Israel and advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza. The district decided to cancel the event, along with associated field trips, with plans to reschedule with a different speaker. The Broward County Public Library system confirmed the event cancellation.

This event was part of the Parent Training Academy series, which offers workshops to help parents support their children’s learning. Promotional materials highlighted Harrison as an inspiring figure for young minds. Her picture book, “Big,” received the 2024 Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King honor for both its writing and illustrations. Harrison was unreachable for comment regarding the cancellation.

A local journalist, Kevin Deutsch, brought attention to Harrison’s antizionist advocacy through his blog “After October 7.” Deutsch’s article critiqued Harrison’s support for a Gaza ceasefire, referencing a 2024 Instagram post and her signature on a letter to President Joe Biden. The letter, signed by 7,000 individuals in the children’s publishing field, called for an immediate ceasefire following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in around 1,200 Israeli civilian deaths.

The letter condemned Israel’s subsequent military actions in Gaza and highlighted the tragic impact on children. The movement, known as #kidlit4ceasefire, described the situation as a genocide, a term disputed by many Jewish Zionist groups. The letter noted over 31,000 Palestinian deaths, including 12,000 children with a median age of five years, and emphasized the plight of children trapped in rubble.

This report by the Miami Herald was supported by Trish and Dan Bell, and South Florida’s Jewish and Muslim communities, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. Editorial control was maintained by the Miami Herald. Religion reporter Lauren Costantino, supported by these donors, authored the piece. Costantino, who joined the Herald in 2021, previously worked on audience engagement and currently resides in Miami Beach with her dog, Oliver.