(SANTA CLARA, CA, 12/6/23) – The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed support for educators in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) who organized a “From Gaza to Oakland” teach-in on Wednesday, Dec. 6.
The event, endorsed by the Oakland Education Association, aimed to provide students with a more diverse perspective on the Palestinian liberation struggle in response to the OUSD administration’s call in a Nov. 7 message to educators “to support students in learning about the human tragedy in Gaza and Israel” and ensure they have access to “diverse perspectives.”
The District, however, reportedly took steps to intimidate teachers planning to participate in the teach-in. Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell issued a letter on Dec. 4, warning educators not to supplement the District’s curriculum with additional resources. This move followed pressure from a minority of parents opposing the teach-in, threatening academic freedom by attempting to limit the scope of discussion on the war in Gaza.
SEE: OUSD superintendent warns about pro-Palestinian teach-in
In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo said, “The attempt to chill academic freedom is concerning. We stand with the educators who are committed to presenting multiple perspectives—including the Palestinian perspective, which is far too often ignored—to foster critical thinking among students. Exposing students to diverse viewpoints can enhance their understanding of complex issues and help balance a narrative that has for far too long been one-sided.”
The teach-in organizers emphasized the importance of addressing the lack of inclusivity in the district’s current curriculum, which shares links to biased, pro-Israel political lobbying groups. The curriculum for the Dec. 6 teach-in included contributions from various sources, such as the Abolitionist Teaching Network, Teaching While Muslim, The Zinn Education Project, Teaching Palestine, UNICEF, Teaching Tolerance, and more.
The teach-in aimed to provide students with opportunities for questions, debates and discussions, allowing them to form their own informed opinions.
CAIR-SFBA is an office of CAIR, 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-SFBA Senior Communications Coordinator Lorrie Adam, ladam@cair.com, 408.986.9874