On Thursday, Feb. 15, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization will hold a press conference at its Maryland office in Baltimore to announce the filing of a complaint challenging the suspension and investigation of three Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) teachers for their speech in support of Palestinian human rights.
WHEN: Thursday, February 15, 10 a.m.
WHERE: CAIR’s Maryland office, 6120 Baltimore National Pike, Suite 2D, Baltimore, MD 21228
CONTACT: CAIR Attorney Rawda Fawaz, 202-742-6420, rfawaz@cair.com; CAIR Staff Attorney Zanah Ghalawanji, 202-742-6420, zghalawanji@cair.com; CAIR MD Office Director Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com.
LIVESTREAM: https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
BACKGROUNDER:
Three MCPS teachers—Hajur El-Haggan, Anike Robinson, and Angela Wolf—were suspended and investigated for expressing their support for Palestinians during Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. Through their attorneys at CAIR, the teachers are filing a lawsuit challenging their suspension on First Amendment grounds. The lawsuit comes months after CAIR filed an EEOC charge of discrimination against the County and the Board on behalf of Hajur El-Haggan.
The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) called on MCPS and its agents to cease violating unit members’ rights to due process by issuing letters to school communities regarding personnel matters when an MCEA unit member is placed on administrative leave, prior to an investigation having taken place.
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 Attorney Rawda Fawaz, 202-742-6420, rfawaz@cair.com; CAIR Staff Attorney Zanah Ghalawanji, 202-742-6420, zghalawanji@cair.com; CAIR MD Office Director Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com