Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Opening Day of School Press Conference on the Steps of City Hall

Frank Gaffney, Center for Security Policy: Frank Gaffney is the Founder and President of the Center for Security Policy in Washington, D.C.


Stop the Madrassa held a press conference today on the steps of New York City Hall on the first day of school. According to their press release, they are announcing the launch of a new national organization, as well as an intensified initiative to force New York City to respond to Freedom of Information Law requests concerning textbooks, lesson plans, curricula, correspondence and design documents for the Khalil Gibran International Academy.

The new organization, Citizens for American Values in Public Education, will expand the fight nationwide to stop the imposition of radical Islamist agendas in curricula, Arabic language programs, history classes, textbooks, teacher training, and charter schools. The organization is distributing a new publication nationwide in October: "Stop the Madrassa: A Citizens Guide to Islamist Curricula In Public Schools." An early draft of the publication will be released at the press conference.

Supporters also demand the immediate closing of the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn New York. Stop the Madrassa succeeded in forcing the resignation of KGIA's controversial founder and first principal, Dhabah Almontaser.

Candace de Russy is a former State University of New York trustee and a higher education reformer.

Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld is a former aide to Governor Pataki, Senator D'Amato, Mayor Ed Koch and other public officials and a current trustee of the City University of New York and other educational institutions and non-profits.

Some of the other speakers included:
  • Barry Farber, New York radio talk show legend.
  • Frank Gaffney, Center for Security Policy: Frank Gaffney is the Founder and President of the Center for Security Policy in Washington, D.C.
  • Pamela Geller is a New York resident, parent and community activist, and the founder of the popular website Atlas Shrugs.
  • Beth Gilinsky, a media and political strategist, is a civil and human rights leader known for her bold activism on international, national and local issues.
  • Rabbi Jacob Goldstein is based in New York City.
  • Pamela Hall is a New York City resident and parent, is also a spokesperson for Stop The Madrassa Community Coalitions, and NYC chapter coordinator for the United American Committee.
  • Stuart Kaufman has over 38 years of legal and business experience. In 2002, Mr. Kaufman was one of the founders of Fortress Global Investigations, an international investigations and security consulting firm.
  • Brian Rooney, Thomas More Law Center, is an attorney, and as a Marine Captain spent two years recently in Iraq.
  • Rabbi Aryeh Spero is president of Caucus For America and is a columnist for Human Events.
I had to go through a security check before being allowed up on City Hall steps. I realized suddenly that I don't have a press pass. I'm not technically the press, so I convinced the police officer that I was a photographer and part of the group holding the press conference.

The speakers were empassioned. The press was hostile, of course. Questions put the the speakers during the Q&A were couched in the most racist of inferences.

At one point one of the speakers said that in order to better fit into American society Muslims have to be able to be made fun of just like everyone else, in reference ensuing threats and violence in response to the Mohammed cartoons. Despite the immediate silence I clapped loudly. An Arab reporter turned around and gave me SUCH a look! I noticed that he had very little scribbled in his notebook, but I bet he'll spin this story like a top in his terror zine, or whatever he writes for.

Thank God we live in a country where people can stand up and say 'no.' I doubt they'd be able to get away with this in Europe these days.


Dr. William Donohue, a former professor, is president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights released this statement to the press today.
*Superb coverage and must-see video
over at Atlas Shrugs!

11 Comments:

Blogger felix said...

Thanks for the photo coverage, infidel.

September 04, 2007 8:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So great seeing you there. Excellent coverage. Thank G-d for you UI.

September 04, 2007 10:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fantastic coverage, UI!

September 04, 2007 10:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Linked over from Atlas. Great photos; most excellent commentary.

September 05, 2007 11:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did I ever mention that you do excellent work, UI?

Well, if not, YOU DO EXCELLENT WORK!

Thanks for being there and covering the event.

DanNY
NYS Coordinator
Gathering of Eagles

p.s. I hope you will be able to join us in DC on September 15th!

September 06, 2007 7:26 AM  
Blogger defiant_infidel said...

The facial expressions tell a story without sound. Fantastic captures, UI.

I had to chuckle when I read you got in without a pass... and then laughed outloud when you wrote of being the sole applauder at the fragile moment of silence. Bold and beautiful, this is you!

Thank you so sincerely for what you do for all of us!

September 07, 2007 12:04 AM  
Blogger The Sanity Inspector said...

Excellent job, thanks for posting.

September 07, 2007 1:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WILLIAM DONOHUE IS A GOOD AND LIKEABLE MAN.

HOWEVER, HE SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT THE ROMAN POPE HAS BEEN EXPOSED AS AN AGENT OF PIAPS!!!!!

September 07, 2007 7:05 PM  
Blogger HappyLibertarian said...

UI, thanks for your coverage of this event. This is certainly one of your best reportings, as well as one of the most important local issues that faces us today. While I'm all for the learning of Arabic and middle-eastern culture, to have an avowed Islamist madrassa in our midst is patently unacceptable. I wonder if it was a fundamentalist Christian school, would the press and the moonbats be so happy to allow it to happen. I highly doubt it. If we can't say Christian and Jewish and other religious prayers in schools, we certainly shouldn't have Islamist indoctrination, either.

September 09, 2007 7:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Citizens for American Values in Public Education"
website is www.americanvaluesforkids.org


They have published a beta version of their "Citizens Guide to Islamist Curricula in Our Public Schools" here:

http://www.americanvaluesforkids.org/CAVPEguide_9_3_07.pdf

EXCELLENT!

September 10, 2007 12:17 AM  
Blogger Always On Watch said...

I was on vacation when the NYC madrassa opened. I still can't believe that we're allowing such an institution on our soil. Even worse, we can't see copies of curricula and lesson plans. And I'll bet that when we do see them, we'll be seeing "a second set of books."

September 11, 2007 6:05 AM  

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