(WASHINGTON D.C., 8/11/2021) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today applauded the Burlington, Wisconsin school board for its response to anti-Islam and anti-mask statements made during a meeting.
During a public comment portion of a Burlington school board meeting Monday, a man opposed to requiring masks in schools expressed anti-Muslim sentiment, saying “in the Muslim faith they found out long ago that if they put a mask over people’s face, they’ll capitulate, they’ll give in.”
As the man was making the comment, one school board member raised his hand indicating the man’s allotted time was up. The school board president interjected, telling the man “be careful,” then told him his time was up. As the man was leaving the microphone, some in the audience applauded, though it is unclear if they were applauding the man or the school board for challenging him.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, others called for the school board to oppose the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s order to more strongly address the “severe, pervasive, and persistent … racially hostile environment” in its schools.
Video: Anti-Masker Attacks Islam at Wisconsin School Board Meeting
SEE: Man Who Made Anti-Islam Remark, Shared Mask Inaccuracies Applauded at Burlington School Board Meeting
Burlington School Board Members Didn’t Vote on Mask Policy
https://www.wisn.com/article/burlington-school-board-meeting-on-mask-wearing-gets-chaotic/37274200#
“Anti-Muslim bigotry is far too often allowed to go unchallenged in public discourse,” said CAIR Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell. “We applaud the Burlington school board for its response to conspiratorial Islamophobic rhetoric and public health misinformation, and urge all institutions across our nation to do their part to challenged bigotry and conspiracy theories.”
Mitchell said the American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
SEE: CAIR Calls for Bias Motive Probe in Fire at D.C. Turkish Restaurant Targeted with Hate Graffiti, Requests Release of Security Camera Footage
CAIR Calls for Bias Motive Probe in Fire at D.C. Turkish Restaurant Targeted with Hate Graffiti, Requests Release of Security Camera Footage
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La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com