The Museum Dress Code Controversy: Employees Fired Over Keffiyehs Amid Backlash

Three employees were dismissed by The Noguchi Museum in New York City for wearing keffiyehs, a move the museum says is a violation of its newly revised dress code, according to a report from Reuters. 

The museum, founded by Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, implemented a new policy last month that forbids employees from wearing clothing or accessories that display "political messages, slogans, or symbols." 

“While we understand that the intention behind wearing this garment was to express personal views, we recognize that such expressions can unintentionally alienate segments of our diverse visitorship,” it said in a statement regarding the museum dress code controversy. 

Natalie Cappellini, one of the three involved in the museum employee firing incident said on Instagram that the museum's management is misusing the term "political" to target the Palestinian cause. 

In response to the museum's decision, over 50 employees signed a petition urging leadership to revoke the “sudden keffiyeh ban.” They argued that the ban “is part of a pattern of retaliatory actions against outspoken people of color at the museum.” The meeting where the keffiyeh ban was announced, they added, “ended in tears... [and] prompted an impromptu walkout from the museum.” 

In November, an attack in Vermont left three students of Palestinian descent injured, with two of them wearing keffiyehs. The incident is currently under investigation. 

In the same month, a Stanford University student of Arab Muslim descent was struck in a hit-and-run incident that authorities are now investigating as a potential hate crime. 

This case follows a similar investigation into the tragic death of a 6-year-old Palestinian American child in Chicago, which is also being treated as a hate crime. 

In a troubling incident, a man wearing a Palestinian headscarf was targeted when someone threw a coffee cup at him. This incident highlights the growing hostility faced by individuals who publicly express solidarity with the Palestinian cause. 

The keffiyeh has been a longstanding symbol of Palestinian nationalism, famously worn by the late PLO leader Yasser Arafat, who was rarely seen without it. 

Amidst significant controversy over the symbolism of the Palestinian keffiyeh, its sales in the United States have surged dramatically. 

According to statistics from an e-commerce analytics firm, unit sales of keffiyeh scarves on Amazon.com surged by 75 percent between October 7 and December 2, compared to the previous 56-day period. Searches for related terms, including "Palestinian scarf for women," "military scarf shemagh," "keffiyeh Palestine," and "keffiyeh," have also seen notable increases, reflecting a growing interest in these symbolic accessories.