Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann spoke to middle school students at M.S. 447 in Boerum Hill on Thursday after his appearance was initially denied.

At the end of last year, the principal denied his appearance, saying his messaging was political because of his views on Israel and Gaza.

Supporters of Steigmann and local elected officials complained to the Department of Education and reached out to the media.

The DOE eventually reversed the decision, allowing the visit to move forward.

Moshe Spern, president of United Jewish Teachers, said the decision to allow Steigmann to speak was appropriate.

“A couple of months ago, we weren’t sure this was going to happen. The fact that it did is a tremendous thing.”

Steigmann said his goal is to ensure that Holocaust survivors are able to share their experiences and that students learn from mistakes of the past.

The school’s principal did not respond to a request for comment.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said: "Our top priority is ensuring their students feel safe and get the high-quality education they deserve. As we've said before, we believe in the unique power of sharing first-hand experiences with our students and we do not shy away from teaching history; the personal histories of Holocaust survivors are unique, powerful, and critically important to helping our students understand antisemitism and the world we live in today."