(BALTIMORE, MD – 7/19/2023) – On Thursday, July 20, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) plans to join interfaith community partners and families at a rally in Rockville, Md., to call on Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to restore its opt-out option and parental notification policies for reading material and classroom discussions that some parents believe would force their children to violate their sincerely-held religious beliefs.
The rally is scheduled to take place ahead of the Montgomery County Board of Education’s July 20 public hearing.
SEE: Montgomery parents want an opt-out on sexuality, gender education restored (Washington Post Op-Ed)
WHAT: Interfaith News Conference and Rally to Restore Opt-Out in MCPS
WHEN: Thursday, July 20, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education Carver Educational Center (North Entrance), 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850
CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062;
LIVESTREAM: https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, recently co-hosted a series of events at Maryland mosques to educate parents about “Navigating Your Rights in Maryland Public Education.”
Over the past several months, a growing number of families have been calling on Montgomery County Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight and the Board of Education to restore the same opt-out option the school district granted last fall when it introduced curriculum and classroom discussions that some parents consider age-inappropriate and/or objectionable based on their sincerely held religious beliefs.
Thousands of Montgomery County residents have signed a petition calling on the school system to reverse course and have attended MCPS school board meetings.
CAIR recently called on two elected officials in Montgomery County, Md., to apologize for offensive and disparaging remarks they made about Muslim parents and students in the Montgomery County public school system.
SEE: CAIR demands apology from Montgomery County councilwoman over ‘offensive’ remarks
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.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com; 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 Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com