(CANTON, MI, 12/18/2023) – The Michigan chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a local chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the filing of a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) against the Ann Arbor Public School District following an incident at Tappan Middle School in Ann Arbor in which a counselor allegedly referred to an 8th grade student as a “terrorist.”
“The words of the guidance counselor referring to an 8th grade student as a ‘terrorist’ were not only discriminatory, but also deeply painful to the student,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “For the school administration and school district to be so dismissive of the pain and harm this caused the student and his family is equally hurtful. The school district has an obligation to ensure that those employed to interact and guide our young children do so in a manner that is free from bias and discrimination, and to ensure that when discriminatory comments such as these are made, that action is taken to ensure the wellbeing of the children affected. That has not happened in this case.”
“Students in the public school system are entitled to learn in an environment that is safe from discrimination and bias,” said CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Amy V. Doukoure. “The Ann Arbor Public School District has failed to protect the mental wellbeing of its Muslim and Palestinian students by not acting following the apparently discriminatory comments by the sixth-grade counselor at Tappan Middle School and those who sided with her in front of a student who was harmed by the hurtful comments. We are asking the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights to investigate the counselor and the lack of action of the school board.”
BACKGROUND:
On November 14th an eight-grade Palestinian Muslim student at Tappan Middle School in Ann Arbor, Michigan was reportedly waiting to speak with his guidance counselor when he asked the sixth-grade counselor if he could leave the office to get a drink of water. The sixth-grade counselor allegedly told the student that he could not leave to get a drink of water because she “did not negotiate with terrorists.” The student immediately complained to the counselor that he felt that her comments were discriminatory and inappropriate based on his religion and ethnicity. The guidance counselor, instead of apologizing, reportedly elicited participation from other counselors who confirmed that they too do not negotiate with terrorist and that they often use that phrase with other students.
As a result of the alleged comments of the counselors and staff at Tappan Middle School, the eight-grade student is no longer comfortable attending the school or participating in meetings in the counselor’s office. When complaints were made to the school, and to the school board, the school seemingly took no action and indicated that it was a private personnel matter and that they consider the issue closed. Since the family’s complaint, no action has been taken to ensure the mental wellbeing of the Muslim student, and the counselor is still working in the school.
CAIR-MI has reached out to the school administrators and the school district but were told that they have handled the matter privately as a personnel matter. The district has not expressed any interest in meeting with the student or his family despite repeated requests. CAIR-MI is speaking out on behalf of the family and has been asked to keep their name private for fear of retaliation.
Since the incidents on Oct. 7, CAIR-MI has experienced an over 300 percent increase in complaints of discrimination in comparison to the same period in 2022. The vast majority, nearly 45 percent, are related to incidents in public schools and universities. Nearly 15 percent of all intakes received at CAIR-MI in the first 60 days following Oct. 7 were related to Islamophobic or Anti-Arab comments made by public school teachers and staff similar to those made at Tappan Middle School on Nov. 14.
Earlier this month, CAIR’s national office released civil rights data showing that it has received a “staggering” 2,171 complaints amid an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate.
SEE: CAIR Received ‘Staggering’ 2,171 Complaints Over Past Two Months as Islamophobia, Anti-Palestinian Hate ‘Spin Out of Control’
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-MI Executive Director, Dawud Walid (248) 842-1418, dwalid@cair.com; CAIR-MI Staff Attorney, Amy V. Doukoure, (586) 943-8823, adoukoure@cair.com