Girl Scout Troop 149 disbanded after legal threats over Palestine fundraiser
Nawal Abuhamdeh, a first-generation Palestinian Muslim American who led the troop, has since disbanded from the Girl Scouts
Troop planned to sell bracelets and donate proceeds to PCRF during cookie season
Girl Scout Troop 149, based in St. Louis, Missouri, has disbanded after its parent chapter blocked a fundraiser for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF). The troop had planned to sell bracelets and donate the proceeds to PCRF during cookie season. However, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri threatened legal action against the troop if they continued with their plans. Nawal Abuhamdeh, a first-generation Palestinian Muslim American who led Troop 149, has since disbanded from the Girl Scouts.
Girl Scout troop disbands after parent chapter blocks Palestine fundraiser
Troop 149 decided to make and sell bracelets, donate proceeds to a cause they felt was more urgent than their own: the Palestine Children's Relief Fund
The response from Girl Scouts of eastern Missouri was clear: Girl Scouts did not participate in political and partisan activities
Abuhamdeh, who is Palestinian, said the stark contrast in response to her own troop's similar effort was hurtful and a triggering reminder of feeling excluded as a child because of her identity
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it presents the actions of a Girl Scout troop as an example of political and partisan activity. The troop's decision to sell bracelets for Palestine Children Relief Fund was not considered political or partisan by other Girl Scout troops, but rather humanitarian. This discrepancy is presented in a way that implies the actions of Troop 149 were politically motivated and therefore unacceptable.
The article presents the decision to sell bracelets for Palestine Children Relief Fund as an example of political and partisan activity, despite other Girl Scout troops organizing similar efforts without issue. This is a lie by omission.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states that Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and Girl Scouts of the United States have no other choice than to engage their legal counsel. This statement implies that these organizations are infallible and cannot be questioned or challenged, which is not true. Additionally, there is a dichotomous depiction in the article when it states that Troop 149's efforts were rewarded with the Girl Scout Bronze Award while other troops who organized to help families in Ukraine were not. This creates an us-versus-them mentality and implies that only certain causes are worthy of recognition or support, which is not fair or accurate.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and Girl Scouts of the United States have no other choice than to engage our legal counsel to help remedy this situation and protect the intellectual property and other rights of the organization.
Bias
(85%)
The article reports that a Girl Scout troop in Missouri was disbanded after their parent chapter blocked a Palestine fundraiser. The author of the article is Erum Salam and it was published on https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/. In this analysis, I found examples of religious bias and monetary bias.
Girl Scouts did not participate in political and partisan activities
The girls decided to make and sell bracelets instead of selling cookies during cookie season
Troop leader Nawal Abuhamdeh agreed to the girls' wishes, despite it being a humanitarian crisis that was considered political by Girl Scouts
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Palestine Children's Relief Fund as they are affiliated with Council on American Islamic Relations (Cair) which is an organization that supports Palestinian causes.
Missouri Girl Scout leaders threatened legal action against a troop that made bracelets to raise funds for starving children in Gaza
Girl Scouts of the USA said its eastern Missouri chapter had only been following fundraising rules, but that it was disappointed and disheartened by the tone of communication with the troop in St. Louis.
Tasneem Manjra, a troop leader in California, said it looks like the Girl Scouts are backtracking because they were called out.
Nawal Abuhamdeh, a first generation Palestinian Muslim American and leader of Troop 149 in St. Louis disbanded from the Girl Scouts after being threatened with legal action by regional scout leaders for selling bracelets to raise funds for children in Gaza
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri sent an email to the troop last month threatening legal action if they continued to sell the bracelets.
Abuhamdeh said she is concerned about Girl Scouts' commitment to girls like hers who aspire to be part of an organization that acts on its values rather than just advertising them.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it presents the situation as if Girl Scouts were trying to raise money for children in Gaza when they were actually raising funds for a charity organization. The author also implies that the fundraising effort was against Girl Scout rules and policies, which is not entirely accurate.
The author implies that Girl Scouts were trying to raise money specifically for children in Gaza when they were actually raising funds for a charity organization.
The article states that Troop 149 raised funds for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, but it does not mention anything about children in Gaza. The charity organization has a history of providing aid to people in need who are traveling to the US for medical treatment.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri threaten legal action against a troop that made bracelets to raise funds for starving children in Gaza. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that the girls were uncomfortable selling Girl Scout Cookies while people are starving in Gaza, which is an emotional appeal rather than a logical one.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri threatened legal action against a troop that made bracelets to raise funds for children in Gaza.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article reports on a conflict of interest between the Girl Scouts and their fundraiser for kids in Gaza. The organization was told to stop selling bracelets that were being used as part of the fundraiser due to concerns about supporting terrorism.
Troop splits with Girl Scouts after legal threats over Gaza bracelet fundraiser
Girl Scout troop disbands after parent chapter blocks Palestine fundraiser
Missouri Girl Scout leaders threatened legal action against a troop that made bracelets to raise funds for starving children in Gaza
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it presents the Girl Scouts as a non-partisan organization when they have clear political leanings. The fundraiser for Gazan children suffering from war was not allowed by the national organization because it represented partisan politics and violated their guidelines. However, during other crises such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, wildfires in Hawaii and the war in Ukraine they lifted their restrictions to allow fundraising for those affected. The article also presents a one-sided view of the situation by only including quotes from Abuhamdeh without providing any context or information about the Girl Scouts' decision making process.
The article states that “the scouts wanted to come to the aid of people” but this contradicts their own guidelines and policies which prohibit them from raising money for other organizations or through activities that represent partisan politics. This statement is deceptive because it presents a false narrative about the Girl Scouts' intentions.
The article states that “girl scouts are non-partisan organization” but later it is revealed that they have clear political leanings and violated their own guidelines by allowing a fundraiser for Gazan children suffering from war. This statement is deceptive because it presents the Girl Scouts as something they are not.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains an example of a false dilemma fallacy. The author presents the situation as if there are only two options: either the Girl Scouts allow their troop to sell bracelets for Gaza children or they do not. However, this is not true as there may be other ways to raise funds for these children without violating any policies or rules.
Bias
(85%)
The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri prohibited the fundraiser for Gazan children suffering war because it was political. The organization's policy is to stay neutral and not take sides in political situations. However, this policy seems to be applied inconsistently as the national organization lifted its fundraising restriction during other crises such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, wildfires in Hawaii and war in Ukraine. The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri also did not feel supported by the organization's decision which led to them parting ways with it.
The eight-member troop was prohibited from raising money for other organizations or through activities that represent partisan politics.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Jonathan Edwards has a conflict of interest on the topics of Girl Scouts and Palestine Children's Relief Fund as he is reporting on legal threats made to a troop that organized a fundraiser for Gazan children suffering from war. He also mentions Nawal Abuhamdeh, who may have ties to these organizations.
Jonathan Edwards reports on the legal threats made against Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri after they sold Gaza bracelets as part of a fundraiser for Palestinian children suffering from war. He quotes Nawal Abuhamdeh, a member of the troop who organized the event.
The article mentions that Jonathan Edwards is reporting on legal threats made to Girl Scouts and Palestine Children's Relief Fund.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Jonathan Edwards has a conflict of interest on the topics of Girl Scouts and fundraising for Gazan children suffering war. He is an employee of The Washington Post which received funding from Nawal Abuhamdeh's organization, Palestine Children's Relief Fund.
Jonathan Edwards writes about a legal threat made against the Girl Scouts by Nawal Abuhamdeh and her organization, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. The article mentions that the fundraiser was for Gazan children suffering war.
