(BALTIMORE, MD, 12/5/18) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on one of Anne Arundel County’s newly-appointed board of education members, Robert Leib, to publicly apologize for controversial social media posts that reveal an intolerant attitude towards African-Americans, immigrants, Muslims, and members of the LGBT community.
Leib, a former county government employee and retired Navy officer, was selected by the county’s School Board Appointment Commission to fill a vacant seat on the board. He was sworn in on Monday despite calls last week by local leaders and community activists who demanded that he step down.
SEE: Group calls on Anne Arundel school board pick to step down over controversial Facebook posts
https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/schools/ac-cn-leib-facebook-20181129-story.html
CAIR, which is coordinating with grassroots activists and elected leaders, expressed concern about Leib’s posts and about a long pattern of racist incidents and allegations of discrimination in Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
“Appointees to this post must be carefully vetted by the commission to ensure they can equally and fairly advocate for all in the school system regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other identity classification,” said CAIR Director of Maryland Outreach Zainab Chaudry. “Each student deserves representatives who demonstrate professionalism, inclusivity and pluralism, and who are committed to their success and well-being across the board. Mr. Leib has not demonstrated this and should either apologize for his posts or step down from this position.”
Chaudry noted that CAIR has issued numerous releases regarding disturbing, bias-motivated incidents in the county’s school system.
SEE: CAIR, NAACP AACo, Community Allies to Call on Anne Arundel County BOE to Address Discrimination, Racism in School System
CAIR, Partner Groups Condemn ”˜Kill All Blacks’ Message at Maryland High School
https://www.cair.com/cair_partner_groups_condemn_kill_all_blacks_message_at_maryland_high_school
Recently, CAIR called on an Anne Arundel County Councilman to step down after Islamophobic posts were discovered on his social media.
SEE: CAIR calls for Anne Arundel County Councilman to step down after anti-Islamic Facebook posts
After coming under heavy criticism, Councilman Grasso eventually issued an apology and deleted the offensive posts.
SEE: Grasso apologizes to Muslim council president, deletes ‘hate-filled’ posts
https://www.capitalgazette.com/news/elections/ac-cn-grasso-apology-1005-story.html
Grasso was the Republican contender who sought to represent the county’s 32nd District in the Maryland State Senate; he conceded defeat in the general election last month.
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights organization has denounced a long string of apparent bias-motivated incidents across the state, including a noose discovered hanging from a tree at Patterson Park I. Baltimore City earlier this week:
SEE: Noose found near Patterson Park Pagoda, Baltimore police say
CAIR’s 2018 Civil Rights Report, ”˜Targeted’, the organization recorded a 17 percent increase in bias-motivated incidents against Muslim Americans from 2016-17, and a 15 percent increase in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes in the same time period.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Director of Maryland Outreach Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com