By Patrick Donachie
Elected officials, teachers and students gathered to discuss the threat of anti-Muslim bullying in schools at a town hall sponsored by Public Advocate Letitia James held at the Islamic Circle of North America at 166-26 89th Ave. in Jamaica.
The town hall was held last Saturday, just days before the start of Ramadan Monday.
“When students do not feel safe, they do not learn,” James said at the town hall meeting that drew concerned community members. “We heard from students, families, teachers, and community members about the horrific bullying happening in our schools, and brought this issue back to the community to find solutions that work. We will not stop working to ensure that our schools are the safe havens they are meant to be.”
A December 2015 analysis from the Center for Hate and Extremism at California State University found that the monthly rate of anti-Muslim hate crimes tripled throughout the country in the wake of the November 2015 Paris terror attacks and the shootings in San Bernadino, California on Dec. 2, 2015.
Schools in New York City have not been immune from the encroaching increase in bias incidents, according to James. The public advocate’s office has received complaints about girls having their hijabs ripped off, as well as about insulting comments. A student on Staten Island was allegedly beaten by a classmate on the basis of seeming to be Muslim, and according to the public advocate’s office, that student, and not the assailant, was suspended from school.
“By bringing people together to show that what they see in popular culture does not reflect the reality, we can counter the anti-Muslim sentiments growing in our schools,” Councilman I. Daneek Miller (D-St. Albans), who also attended the event, said. “During this time of worship, we need to continue to stand together and this town hall showed the community why this harassment needs to stop.”
During the town hall, attendees also discussed how to increase education about Islam for students and teachers and how to spread awareness about the ways students can report bullying and harassment.
In December, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch also spoke out about her concern regarding anti-Muslim bullying in schools, addressing the issue in the aftermath of the terrorist incidents in Paris and California.
Reach reporter Patrick Donachie by e-mail at pdona
