The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a newly-announced requirement that teachers relocating to Oklahoma from so-called “woke” or progressive states must pass a politically-motivated assessment reportedly developed in collaboration with PragerU, a group known for promoting anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant narratives.
SEE: Oklahoma to begin controversial test to weed out ‘woke’ teacher applicants today – CNN
SEE ALSO: Concerns about PragerU as company claims videos have been viewed 8 billion times
In a statement, CAIR Oklahoma Executive Director Veronica Laizure said:
“This ‘loyalty test’ is a blatant attempt to politicize public education, intimidate educators and impose a narrow, exclusionary ideology under the guise of patriotism. Partnering with a group like PragerU — which has a documented history of anti-Muslim propaganda — only reinforces the discriminatory and undemocratic nature of this initiative.
“At a time when our schools should be focusing on inclusive education and critical thinking, this mandate seeks to purge diverse perspectives and marginalize already underrepresented communities. We urge Oklahoma leaders to reject these divisive tactics and affirm their commitment to fair, constitutional, and bias-free education for all.”
She noted that CAIR Oklahoma has previously called out Ryan Walters, Oklahoma’s superintendent for public instruction, for his calls to require Bibles to be taught in schools.
SEE: CAIR-OK Condemns OSDE Requirement for Bible Instruction in Classrooms as Unconstitutional
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.
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: Veronica Laizure, CAIR Oklahoma Executive Director, vLaizure@cair.com, 405-430-9877