The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MD), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed news that Washington County Board of Education Vice President Mike Guessford has agreed to meet with leaders at the Islamic Society of Western Maryland (ISWMD) following public backlash over his call to “protest” the mosque’s upcoming open house.
SEE: CAIR Condemns Maryland School Board VP’s ‘Dangerous’ Call to Protest Local Mosque’s Open House
CAIR said the meeting represents a necessary first step toward accountability and understanding for a public official who holds influence over policies impacting a diverse body of students, staff, and families.
“We welcome Mr. Guessford’s willingness to meet with mosque leaders,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “Members of the Board of Education are elected officials responsible for setting the moral tone of the school system. Our hope is that he can demonstrate through dialogue and constructive action that he is committed to repairing community trust in his public facing role.”
CAIR urges Mr. Guessford to take the following actions to begin rebuilding public confidence is his leadership role to model respect, inclusion, and understanding:
- Issue a public statement apologizing to the mosque and acknowledging that his call to “protest” their open house was inappropriate, divisive, and inconsistent with the values expected of an education leader.
- Personally participate in the mosque’s October 18 event to meet community members, learn about their faith and demonstrate goodwill.
- Participate in a cultural competency training on religious literacy, particularly regarding Muslim students and families.
- Commit to regular communication with faith leaders to promote interfaith understanding in schools and the broader community.
- Publicly affirm support for inclusive curricula and safe learning environments for students of all faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds including Muslim children.
- Pledge to uphold standards of civility, impartiality, and nondiscrimination in his role and communications.
CAIR has offered to assist Washington County Public Schools in facilitating training, dialogue, and community partnerships that strengthen understanding and prevent future incidents of bias or misunderstanding.
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, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; 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