Power to the Parents: After Thousands of Complaints, Hillsborough schools to limit outside speakers, i.e. CAIR

Tonight the Hillsborough school board met concerning the presentations of Hamas-CAIR in the children's classroom. The parents all wore red and very eloquently expressed their concerns. Supporters of Hassan Shibly also spoke to the board, calling concerned parents the usual names….

In the second to the last video (to be posted tomorrow), around minute 5, Hassan Shibly arrogantly spoke to the board. (He was the only speaker to demand more time, since he was clearly the victim. The board denied his request!)

As I wrote in the American Thinker in December: "Shibly has a track record of defending jihad terrorist groups and acting as an apologist for the worldwide jihad and Islamic supremacism. Following the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War, Shibly granted legitimacy to Hezb'allah by characterizing it as a 'resistance movement' that provides valued social services to the Lebanese people. 'They're absolutely not a terrorist organization,' Shibly said, and 'any war against them is illegitimate' — more on that here." And Shibly is the local rep for Hamas-tied CAIR, an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terror funding trial in our nation's history, the Holy Land Foundation trial. Holy Land, an Islamic "charity," was funneling charitable donations to Hamas.

After the meeting, Shibly went to the courtyard/back area and led five others in prayer. He was on display through the glass windows for all to see. For Islamic supremacists, public prayer is an assertion of Muslim presence and power: witness the massive displays of public Muslim prayer that shut down streets in Paris and elsewhere, in open and repeated defiance of infidel laws and the convenience of local pedestrians and businesses.

Hezb'allah supporter Shibly is having a tantrum over our victory for freedom. Here is Shibly's libelous and typically dishonest post. He is lying about everything. But hey, that's what they do.

Man, does he want at our kids. Keep him away from the children.

The Danger of Empowering Hate Group Leaders

The Boards actions yesterday prompted Pamela Geller & the Florida Family Association to declare victory over the school district.

Our supporters are all mainstream and academic. Our opponents are fringe and are opposed by mainstream institutions. Do not give in to bigoted pressure.

Look at the long term consequences of our actions. The more we give in to hate, the more we empower them and encourage them.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY — Bay News

The Hillsborough County School Board meeting got heated Tuesday night as both sides spoke their views on whether an Imam from the Council on American-Islamic Relations should be allowed to lecture high school students.

For the first time since the controversy started, the Executive Director of Tampa's CAIR chapter, Hassan Shibly, took his turn at the school board podium.

"These guys are calling me a terrorist. C'mon, if any of these things were really true, I wouldn't be standing here," he said.

Complaints started after Shibly spoke to a high school history class about the Islamic faith. They claim CAIR has ties to terrorism and say Shibly isn't qualified to speak to students.

Shibly defended his school appearance by saying he's trying to promote understanding.

"Unfortunately, there have been so many lies that have been said today I feel like I have to come out here and prove the world isn't flat," he said.

One school board member scolded the audience.

"I watched some people put their hands over their ears and plug their ears," said board member, April Griffin. "I watched a group of people get up in mass and walk out of the room because a young woman said she was going to say a prayer and she was Muslim."

The meeting ended peacefully but both sides say they're not backing down.

The superintendent gave board members a proposal that would set some guidelines for speakers but nothing was decided tonight.

TAMPA — In a move that responds to complaints about an Islamic organization, the Hillsborough County School District took a first step Tuesday toward regulating outside speakers in the classroom.

A brief set of guidelines offered by superintendent MaryEllen Elia asks teachers to look for speakers recommended by the district, consult with their principals and refrain from invitations to advocacy organizations.

The School Board will hold a workshop to discuss the issue in more detail, on a day not yet determined. Until then, a majority of board members agreed that Elia's guidelines can stand.

They did so over strong objections from member April Griffin, who said it was not Elia's place to draft policy. What's more, she said, a policy against advocacy groups would exclude many organizations including the PTA and the NAACP, not to mention groups that are regulars at the Great American Teach-In.

The discussion followed more than an hour of audience comments Tuesday — as well as earlier complaints — about the suitability of visits to classrooms from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Unlike the last two board meetings, when only speakers opposed to CAIR took to the lectern, Tuesday's crowd included Muslim-Americans and civil rights activists who defended CAIR and its executive director, Hassan Shibly.

"These are the kinds of people I would select as my neighbors, as my babysitters and as my friends," said Lois Price, a mother of two schoolteachers and a member of Friends of Human Rights, a Tampa organization.

Added Ghazi Ahmed, who lived in Yemen and Detroit before settling in Tampa: "I have three kids and they're going to grow up here. We have to work together, not attack each other."

Those opposed to CAIR were equally passionate. Some said they had nothing against Muslims, but said the group itself has links to terrorism — something Shibly has consistently denied.

Teacher Kelly Clem-Rickon, who was raised in the Mormon faith, wore red, the color of the anti-CAIR faction. She said she would be open to presentations from any religion, but not CAIR.

Others objected to any speaker who might favor Islamic sharia law. "I do not have hate in my heart," said Christina Latchford, a military mother. "But I do recognize an ideology that is damaging, and I wouldn't subject my children to it."

The controversy began late last year after Shibly, a lawyer and an imam, spoke at an advanced placement world history class at Steinbrenner High School.

It was not the first time the history teacher had invited members of his and other religious organizations. But it caught the notice of conservative activists.

Addressing the board as one of the final speakers, Shibly said he was astounded at so much misinformation about his organization. "I feel that I have to prove the world isn't flat," he said.

Terry Kemple, of the anti-CAIR Education Coalition, said he thought Elia's plan was a step in the right direction, but preferred something to more directly address the issue of what he called terrorist sympathizers in the classroom.

Shibly said he was disappointed by the move — not necessarily because of the guidelines, but because he said they were motivated by xenophobia. Of the people who spoke against CAIR, he said, "They're not going to be happy with anyone."

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Brandy

12 years ago

“Addressing the board as one of the final speakers, Shibly said he was astounded at so much misinformation about his organization. “I feel that I have to prove the world isn’t flat,” he said.”
Then why doesn’t he say what the misinformation is? He just makes a broad statement. But we all know why he doesn’t, because he can’t!
I am SO proud of those parents, teachers and others who stood up and said “NOT HERE!” I can’t wait to watch the video. And thanks Pamela for writing about this.
Yes, the American people are taking notice!

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MA02169

12 years ago

A thousand pardons my dear Pamela, for putting this here, but I do think it is relevant.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obama: “Son of Islam”?
by Raymond Ibrahim
February 27, 2012 at 4:00 am
According to Sharia law, if one’s father is Muslim, one automatically becomes Muslim. “Most of the Muslims I know (me included) can’t seem to accept that Obama is not a Muslim.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read the rest here: http://www.stonegateinstitute.org/2891/obama-islam

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fern

12 years ago

Proud too of all the parents who stood their ground (it rejuvenates my hope that all is not lost). Remember, the fight is never over with this cult and their staunch apologists and bolsterers, therefore, no one can afford to take their eye off the ball.
So proud of our Pam, who without hesitation always puts herself on the frontline combating the stealthy creep of sharia, for everyone. Well done and stay safe.
A sure victory amidst so many (global) battles we are all up against. Well done!!

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Kali Politis

12 years ago

Congratulations! And thank you, thank you, thank you, Pamela!!!
Man, does he want at our kids. Keep him away from the children.
Yes, he’s really proved it, hasn’t he? Can you imagine any other group trying so desperately to push their agenda on the public school children? How about NAMBLA? Maybe they should be throwing hissy fits because they can’t have free reign of our public schools?
What the hell, you psycho? Just stay out of our schools! Find something else to do with yourself.
Oh, that’s right – these fanatics can’t do that, because it’s their stated goal that they will take over the U.S. through EDUCATION, which means through indoctrinating our children – thanks for verifying that fact, Shibly, you disgusting supremacist bigot. What an evil, evil man.
Remember what CAIR cult leader Hooper said:
“I wouldn’t want to create the impression that I wouldn’t like the government of the United States to be Islamic sometime in the future… But I’m not going to do anything violent to promote that. I’m going to do it through education.”
-Ibraham Hooper, CAIR

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Kali Politis

12 years ago

This guy’s vehemence in having access to our children makes me wonder if he’s a pervert. If he’s going to emulate the “Perfect Man” in having a six-year-old wife, I guess he’s got to get at the schoolchildren young, eh?
Again, can you imagine any other group being so desperate to have access to other people’s children? To throw fits, ranting about “haters” and calling others bigoted names, just because you’re not allowed on the school campus? What would you do to the children if you got them alone?
What if Christian proselytizers decided they wanted to have at the children in Muslim schools? And if they didn’t gain access, imagine them spitting nails and calling everyone names, using essentially violent hate speech in order to FORCE Muslim parents to accept their proselytizing?
What a demented piece of trash this guy and all his CAIR cultists are. I hope he reads this – stay away from our children, pervert. You’ve obviously got serious issues.

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ElvaRotneri

12 years ago

I like Christopher Hitchens and would like to articles such as those appearing on Slate.
Newegg Promo Code

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wri7913

12 years ago

Here’s a local link to Tampa Bay article featuring this dispute.
http://www2.tbo.com/news/education-news/2012/feb/28/7/cair-answers-critics-at-hillsborough-schools-meeti-ar-363905/
In the responses I pointedly asked Hassan about his statements supporting Hamas and Hezbollah. He dodge those questions and brayed on about how we shouldn’t do guild by association. Well, the fact of the matter is Hassan himself is a terrorist sympathizer and CAIR members stated goals are destruction of the US from within.

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stoney foster

12 years ago

i live in a county just south of hillsborough…..this area is a hotbed of anti american attitudes…(sarasota county as well)….keep the pressure on these groups, (rats and roaches hate the light!!!!)…islam is not peace, it is slavery!!!!

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Redneck Woman

12 years ago

One school board member scolded the audience.
“I watched some people put their hands over their ears and plug their ears,” said board member, April Griffin. “I watched a group of people get up in mass and walk out of the room because a young woman said she was going to say a prayer and she was Muslim.”
……just need to ask this: Was the Lord’s prayer said before this meeting? Did anyone at any time from the Christian side say that they were going to say a Christian prayer? What would have been the reaction , do you think, if someone had?
We are told we must tolerate and allow muslims to have their prayers in a public place ….BUT I’m sure that if any Christian had said they were going to say a prayer…there would have been more outcry about it than just people walking out or sticking their fingers in their ears!

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Ronald Morgenthaler

12 years ago

“I wouldn’t want to create the impression that I wouldn’t like the government of the United States to be Islamic sometime in the future… But I’m not going to do anything violent to promote that. I’m going to do it through education” -MISINFORMATION.
-Ibraham Hooper, CAIR

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Ronald Morgenthaler

12 years ago

Normally the authorities would reject religious indoctrination, but these leaders have themselves been brainwashed in liberal schools. The lie is coming from everywhere now, from the the schools, the President, the media, and corporations. 99% of our authorities are themselves brainwashed. I don’t expect us to win this information war without divine intervention.

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The Infidel

12 years ago

The reason they are not that aginst islam being introduced into schools, is they KNOW islam is not a religion, but a totalatarian political system camaflaged as religion. anything that can be used to help distroy both Judasim and Christianity is fine by them, they know that only in the Jewish and christian scriptures is the moral codes that can make a country great. islam/facism/communism/humanism/athiesm only distroy, never build.

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