(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/14/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a decision by Alabama’s Montgomery County Board of Education to rename two schools currently named for Confederate historical figures.
On Thursday, Montgomery school board officials voted 5-2 to rename Robert E. Lee High School to Percy Julian High School, in honor of the famed Black chemist. Jeff Davis High School will be renamed to JAG High School, an acronym for Judge Frank Johnson, Ralph Abernathy, and Robert Graetz. Johnson was a Black jurist who fought against segregation, Abernathy was a Black civil rights leader and Graetz was a pastor who supported the movement. Some 80 percent of district students are Black.
SEE: Alabama Board Votes to Remove Confederate Names From 2 Schools
https://www.insider.com/alabama-board-votes-to-remove-confederate-names-from-2-schools-2022-11
2 Alabama schools to strip Confederate namesakes
https://www.axios.com/2022/11/12/alabama-schools-remove-confederate-names
“It is unacceptable that schools anywhere, especially in a district with a majority Black student population, would be named after individuals who betrayed our nation in order to preserve slavery, systemic anti-Black racism and white supremacy,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “We welcome the decision of the Montgomery County Board of Education to remove these names.”
He noted that Washington, D.C., based CAIR has repeatedly called for the removal of Confederate holidays, flags, statues, and symbols nationwide.
SEE: CAIR Calls for Removal of Confederate Flag from South Carolina Highway
CAIR Supports Va. School Board’s Review of Confederate, Segregationist-Linked Names
CAIR Welcomes Virginia Town’s Decision to Drop Confederate Name for Reservoir
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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.
Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to CAIR’s Email List
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
Subscribe to CAIR’s Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR’s YouTube Channel
Follow CAIR on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/
Donate to CAIR
https://action.cair.com/a/donate
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
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; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com