The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is “a grassroots civil rights and advocacy group. CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties organization, with regional offices nationwide. CAIR’s national headquarters are on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.”
According to its statement, “[s]ince its establishment in 1994, CAIR has worked to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America. Through media relations, government relations, education and advocacy, CAIR puts forth an Islamic perspective to ensure the Muslim voice is represented. In offering this perspective, CAIR seeks to empower the American Muslim community and encourage their participation in political and social activism.”
One of CAIR’s “core principals” reads “CAIR believes the active practice of Islam strengthens the social and religious fabric of our nation.”
CAIR criticizes introducing books depicting drag queens and other sexual topics into grades as early as pre-K and demands “reasonable religious accommodations.”
CAIR’s statement on sexually-themed books at Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools (April 5, 2023):
Last week, #Maryland’s Montgomery County Public Schools banned pre-K through 12th students from opting out of discussing sexually-themed books recently introduced into classrooms. MCPS has also banned schools from giving parents advance notice about when such content will be shown. This is wrong.
When MCPS introduced books depicting drag queens and other sexual topics into grades as early as pre-K, the district said those books “would not be mandatory,” just like the state’s sex-ed courses are not mandatory. Yet MCPS has now changed course without consulting parents.
We join Montgomery County Muslim Council, ICNA Council for Social Justiceand others in calling on MCPS to reverse course, respect the rights of families, and restore the reasonable religious accommodations of an opt-out and advance notice that parents have relied upon.
If you live in Montgomery County, sign the petition below to call on
MCPS to restore the opt-out option and keep parents informed about what their children are learning and when.
CAIR’s Call for Action
Take Action: Urge MCPS to Restore Family & Student Rights in Public Education
Take action by joining the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Montgomery County Muslim Council, and ICNA Council for Social Justice in telling the Montgomery County Public Schools’ Superintendent and Board of Education that you oppose MCPS’ recent decision to undermine the rights of families and the spirit of Maryland state law by 1) banning Pre-K through 12th grade students from opting-out of classroom discussions on sexually-themed reading material and 2) ordering schools not to notify parents about when such content will be presented.
By introducing sexually-themed lessons and materials as part of the school curriculum without advance parental notice, an opt-out option or another reasonable religious accommodation, MCPS is violating the rights of families and guardians, and undermining Maryland state law, which requires parents or guardians to have the option to remove their children from “Family Life and Human Sexuality” content.
Families and guardians entrust their children to the school system with the expectation that these rights are respected and recognized. Schools should respect their authority by restoring the option to opt their children out of reading sexually-themed content or participating in sexually-themed lesson and discussions, without any adverse consequences.
TAKE ACTION TODAY AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!