To: Muslim organizations outside the San Francisco Bay Area. We recommend the following type of communication for your local schools

The following flyer is being faxed and mailed to School Principals and District Superintendents of all K-12 public and private schools in the eight counties of the San Francisco Bay Area. Included are Marin, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. The cover letter asks that they distribute the flyer to teachers and other school staff.

Muslim parents: please hand deliver this flyer to your child’s school. We reiterate instructions by other Muslim organizations and strongly encourage that you report hate incidents to CAIR, ING, or AMGPJ. The three local organizations are working together in tracking & response.

For more information about this flyer, please write to <[email protected]>and avoid calling the ING office unless it is an emergency due to the high volume of calls at this time. Thank you.
Maha ElGenaidi

Islamic Speakers Bureau – San Francisco Bay Area
(a program of the Islamic Networks Group)
408-296-7312

To: School Principals and District Superintendents
Date: 9/13/01

Subject: Recent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.

We wholeheartedly condemn and deplore the recent attacks in New York and Washington D.C., and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. May God be with them at this difficult time.

At the same time, it must be acknowledged that the victims of such an attack are not only those directly involved. When a bombing or terrorist attack associated with a particular ethnic or religious group occurs, often the entire community is accused and punished. One of the outcomes of the recent incidents has been the backlash against Muslims and Arabs, who have instantaneously become a target of insults, threats, hate incidents, and even violence. Women and children are particularly vulnerable, the first due to their distinctive dress, and the second because of school attendance. Consequently, Muslim and Arab parents are anxious about sending their children to school, fearing for their well-being and safety. It is vital to the strength and cohesiveness of the school system that we come together as a community to create a safe, friendly, and tolerant environment for all students.

To minimize tensions or backlash, we suggest the following:

1. Enforce any existing district and school programs that prevent and respond to hate crimes and incidences on school campuses. Remarks or actions targeting students due to their religion or ethnicity should not be tolerated at any level by the administration or teachers. All such incidents should be treated in a serious matter, with appropriate consequences.

2. Muslim or Arab students may be reluctant, embarrassed or ashamed to report such incidents, so teachers should be asked to make every effort to monitor students’ interactions and encourage students to report any incidents that occur in their absence.

3. Discuss this issue with staff and teachers and have them report any incidents and their response at staff meetings.

4. Request teachers to discuss the attacks, their aftermath, and the backlash they have produced with the students in a sensitive manner that does not foment prejudice or target one segment of the population. Ask them to encourage students to come up with solutions to the problem of prejudice, stereotyping, and hate incidents. At the same time, encourage students to be confident in their religious and ethnic identity and heritage.

5. Be aware of anxious or fearful parents who often do not know fluent English. Reassure them that their children will be safe and taken care of at your school.

6. Have an “Islamic Speakers Bureau” trained speaker come to your school for a presentation about Islam and Muslims. Presentations are designed to complement social studies curriculum for middle and high schools. Presentations may be made to individual classes or as an assembly for the entire school. Contact (888) 296-7312. For more information, go to https://ing.org/school_teacher.htm

7. Consider a workshop on diversity tolerance & hate prevention for your school. We recommend the following organizations to conduct such programs:

– Intergroup Clearinghouse (San Francisco) 415-564-9410
– Todos Institute (East Bay) (510) 444-6448
– National Conference for Community Justice (South Bay) (408) 286-9663

Reminder: Please distribute this flyer to school teachers and staff.