Khalil Gibran Intl' Academy event - 8/20

COMMUNITIES IN SUPPORT OF KHALIL GIBRAN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY

Press Advisory Contact: Erica

Phone: 718-431-4465

For Immediate Release Email: media@awaam.org

NEW YORKERS COME OUT IN SUPPORT

OF ARABIC-LANGUAGE SCHOOL

Diverse groups applaud Almontaser’s work and urge public officials to “reject racism”

August 17, 2007; New York, NY— Communities in Support of Khalil Gibran International Academy, a diverse

group of community leaders and organizations, plan to express their backing of KGIA on Monday, August 20,

2007. Below is the text of their statement of support.

Statement of Support for Khalil Gibran International Academy

As New Yorkers in support of quality public education for all our communities, we stand in solidarity with the

Khalil Gibran International Academy, which has sustained hateful and false attacks by anti-Arab media and

extremists. In the post-9/11 world, a school educating our children about Arab history, culture, and language is

not only crucial for the next generation to become informed leaders for positive change in our communities; it is

also an extraordinary place of hope for peace, understanding, and justice for our embattled world. We regret

that Debbie Almontaser was pressured to resign and applaud her work to establish this school and promote

intercultural exchange in this diverse global city.

Those who seek to equate the study of Arabic language, culture, and history with religious fanaticism and

violence are irresponsibly aggravating a present moment of hysteria against Arab and Muslim communities, and

are using this moment to promote hatred in a time of war. We urge our public officials to reject these racist and

inaccurate attacks and continue to work towards building a lasting educational institution that promises to bring

our communities together, rather than divide and pit them against each other. We call on all New Yorkers who

want to see peace on our streets and in our world to stand with us in support of the Khalil Gibran International

Academy.

Event Information

Peaceful Demonstration in Support of KGIA

Monday, August 20, 2007 at 6:00 PM

NYC Department of Education

Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chambers Street

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For an up-to-date list of event sponsors, please visit www.awaam.org. Interviews available upon request.