Civil Rights complaint filed after attack on 12-year-old muslim teen in Cambridge
CAMBRIDGE, Md. – Muslim civil rights group CAIR has filed a complaint with the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights to investigate Mace’s Lane Middle School following the harassment and attack of a 12-year-old Muslim student whose Hijab was forcibly removed at least twice.
“ My daughter has been deeply traumatized by the ongoing events that have taken place over the last 2 months,” said the child’s parent Ms. Latoya Gibbs. “It is crucial that we speak out to raise awareness about hate and bullying, and as a nation, work towards putting an end to these harmful behaviors.”
“There’s no justification for the negligence and systemic failures that contributed to the prolonged trauma this child was forced to endure,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “Parents entrust schools with their children’s safety and well-being, and Mace’s Lane Middle School administrators failed that trust. They failed to protect Ms. Gibbs’ daughter from harm or provide her with a safe learning environment. CAIR is seeking more than an apology; we are seeking systemic reforms and policy changes.”
With CAIR’s complaint – the Department of Education will be directed to investigate the patterns and practices of the school and the school district, including what the group alleges was a systemic failure of administrators to report, escalate, and prevent the incidents that began on March 25th.
The group is calling for sensitivity and anti-bias training for school staff, and anti-bullying training for all students at Maces” Lane, and throughout the school system saying this kind of behavior cannot continue.
“We believe that there is no justification for the negligence and the systemic failures that contributed to the prolonged trauma that this child was forced to endure,” Chaudry said adding “We want disciplinary consequences for the staff that were involved, who were aware of the pattern of incidents, but unfortunately failed to take appropriate corrective action.”
Chaudry says research her group has conducted indicated that over 50 percent of Muslim students experience bullying on the grounds of their religious identity, a number she says far exceeds that of other students, and is likely far higher due to what she says is a pressure for students to underreport.
Chaudry says that reality is why they hope the investigation can lead to a positive change in the school.
“We are seeking cultural competency training for administrators within the school system related to Islam and Muslims so they understand what the importance of the hijab is, the headscarf is, but also what other religious attire also symbolizes for students who practice different faiths,” Chaudry said.
The group is also calling for accommodations and supplemental tutoring for the child. to be able to make up for missed classroom instruction as well as a public apology from the school system.
CAIR says they expect a response from the Department of Education within 10 days.
