(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/22/17) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Maryland’s Carroll County Public Schools Board of Education to uphold free speech by instructing school administrators at Westminster High School to allow educators and students to display pro-diversity posters.
SEE: Posters Deemed Anti-Trump Removed From Westminster High Classrooms
The posters – designed by artist Shepard Fairey – feature Muslim, African-American and Latina women and were put up by teachers at the school to promote inclusivity and diversity. However, they were forced by school administrators to remove the poster after complaints they were “anti-Trump.”
“Educators have an important responsibility to foster a learning environment that is inclusive and welcoming for students of different backgrounds,” said CAIR Maryland Outreach Manager Dr. Zainab Chaudry. “Particularly in this tumultuous political climate, forcing teachers to remove pro-diversity posters not only chills free speech in public schools, it also sends a hostile message to the student body that their differences are not valued, appreciated or celebrated.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Outreach Manager Dr. Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com