WashPost article: In New York, a Word Starts a Fire

A lot has been written on the topic of the Khalil Gibran International Academy, but not much in the two bigwig newspapers - the New York Times and the Washington Post - but that changed when they finally started covering the school and its Principal-who-was-to-be, Debbie Almontaser.

This article in the Washington Post is pretty informative and balanced and gives good perspective on the issue with a wide variety of quotes from diverse stakeholders in the matter.

The "word" being referred to in the title of the article is intifada. I will not say anything further but I hope you read the article!

Khalil Gibran event a success!

The Khalil Gibran school event turned out to be amazing! I was there primarily in solidarity, and was upset to have arrived so late, but clearly our community has its act together - finally! Everything was done by 7:15, and the sidewalk was cleared shortly thereafter with lots of media and a surprisingly diverse crowd.

Copied below are links to articles on the coverage - take your pick! - all courtesy of Erica Waples.

Thanks, Erica!

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ASSOCIATED PRESS: Supporters of NYC Arabic school want founding leader
reinstated (multiple news outlets using AP story)
> AM New York: http://www.amny.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--arabicschool0821aug21,0,7617290.story
> International Herald Tribune: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/21/america/NA-GEN-US-NYC-Arabic-School.php
> Staten Island Advance: http://www.silive.com/newsflash/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-27/1187655317296650.xml&storylist=simetro

ASSOCIATED PRESS: U.S. rabbi defends N.Y. Arab school despite charges
it will be anti-Israel
> Ha'aretz: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/895796.html

DAILY NEWS
> http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/08/21/2007-08-21_protest_pans_principals_ouster_over_tshi.html
> http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/08/21/2007-08-21_2language_schools_put_in_spotlight.html

FOX TV CHANNEL (Channel 9, different from Fox News Channel on cable)
> http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=4124172&version=5&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

NEW YORK TIMES
> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/nyregion/21protest.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin

NEWSDAY
> http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--arabicschool0821aug21,0,4590078.story

NY1 NEWS
> http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=72822

NY POST
> http://www.nypost.com/seven/08212007/news/regionalnews/rallying_cry.htm

NY SUN
> http://www.nysun.com/article/60909
> http://www.nysun.com/article/60954


** Pre-Event Articles **
> The Arab American News: http://www.arabamericannews.com/newsarticle.php?articleid=9515
> Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/08/20/2007-08-20_they_scapegoated_her.html
> New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/15/education/15school.html?fta=y
> NY Sun: http://www.nysun.com/article/60846

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

###

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

NY Events by the Center for Constitutional Rights - 4/17 and 4/19

center

for

constitutional

rights

Dear Zeeshan, Please join us for one or both of these exciting events. Racism, the Criminal Justice System and Guantánamo Bay: Imprisonment and the Prison-Industrial Complex Date and time: Thursday, April 19, 2007, @7:00 PM Location: St. Mary's Church- 521 W. 126th St., NYC CCR attorney Gita Gutierrez, the first civilian attorney to visit Guantánamo Bay, will participate in a panel discussion exploring the similarities between imprisonment and criminalization in New York City and that in Guantánamo Bay. (details below) and... disAPPEARing justice? Date and time: Tuesday, April 17, 2007, 7:30pm Location: The Calhoun School- 433 West End Ave at 81st St., NYC Former CCR legal Director Bill Goodman will participate in an expert panel discussion on the conflict between those who argue that our civil liberties are being erased versus those who believe changes are vital in order to protect the very liberties we enjoy as Americans.(details below) DETAILS The Center for Constitutional Rights presents the latest event in our series: DETENTION, RACISM, WAR: Struggles for Justice, from our communities to Guantánamo Bay Racism, the Criminal Justice System and Guantánamo Bay Thursday, April 19, 2007 7:00 PM St. Mary's Church 521 W. 126th St., NYC Subway: 1/A/B/C/D to 125th FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Join us on Thursday, April 19, 2007, for an exciting panel of speakers from the legal and activist communities confronting imprisonment and criminalization in New York City and in Guantanámo Bay, including: Gitanjali Gutierrez, Center for Constitutional Rights Chino Hardin, Prison Moratorium Project Judith Greene, researcher on sentencing and imprisonment Rafael Mutis, JusticeWorks Community Seven Neighborhood Action Project Reginald Gossett, Critical Resistance And more! Explore the connections between imprisonment here and the acceptance of arbitrary detention at Guantanamo, and find out what you can do to support struggles for justice! For more information about this event, please contact Lynne Kates at LKates@ccr-ny.org or call 212-614-6443. disAPPEARing JUSTICE? An expert panel discusses the conflicts between those who argue that our civil liberties are being erased vs. those who believe changes are vital in order to protect the very liberties we enjoy as Americans. Panelists include: Bill Goodman, Former Legal Director, Center for Constitutional Rights Timothy Bakken, Professor of Law, United States Military Academy at West Point James Copland, Director, Center for Legal Policy, Manhattan Institute Beth Haroules, Staff Attorney, NY Civil Liberties Union Udi Ofer, Field Director & Legislative Council, NY Civil Liberties Union DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, April 17, 2007, 7:30pm TICKETS : $10/adults, $5 students & senior citizens RESERVATIONS: RSVP call 212-497-6528 LOCATION: The Mary Lea Johnson Performing Arts Center, The Calhoun School, 433 West End Av (at 81st)

Occupied Gaza like apartheid South Africa, says UN report

I remember blogging about UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories, John Dugard, earlier when one of his articles appeared in a prominent Atlanta newspaper. But alas, that was Atlanta, and this current article is from The Guardian. One can imagine the difference in readership, as well as the impact its contents can have.

He says similar things, ie Israel is an apartheid state and it is racist, but one would hope that we move beyond these discussions, and instead, work toward a sustainable solution.

I must say, though, that such a solution cannot take place without the developed world's support, and if the US and Britain continue to play irresponsible, or rather, unresponsive, roles, then we are truly doomed.

Without further ado, here's the article.