Joel Klein and His Cronies Discriminated Against Dr. Debbie Almontaser...ANYONE SURPRISED???

From Mr. Jim Luce at the Huffington Post:




The paper I love to hate, The New York Post, shouted: "City Principal Is Revolting: Tied To 'Intifada NYC' Shirts."

Do you remember? The summer of 2007.

A group of fanatics insisted that T-shirts with the word "Intifada," sold at an Arab Heritage event in Brooklyn, were linked to the principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA).

First, there is something in America called Freedom of Speech. Second, the T-shirts had nothing to do with the school. Third, even I -- born and raised in Ohio -- know that "Intifada" is an Arabic word which literally means "shaking off."

Wikipedia notes that it is "usually translated into English as uprising, resistance or rebellion. It is often used as a term for popular resistance to oppression." I won't even argue the appropriateness of teen behavior - weren't you ever a teen?

The EEOC has ruled the DOE forced Khalil Gibran International Academy principal, Dr. Debbie Almontaser, to resign due to anti-Arab and anti-Muslim critics.

The extremists pushed until the former interim acting principal, Dr. Debbie Almontaser, was fired. I thought at the time it was obscene.

Last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) agreed with my assessment.

It issued a Determination in which it finds that the Department of Education (DOE) forced Dr. Debbie Almontaser of the Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA) to resign in order to appease her anti-Arab and anti-Muslim critics.

The Commission ruled that, in demanding Debbie's resignation, the "DOE succumbed to the very bias that the creation of the school was intended to dispel, and a small segment of the public succeeded in imposing its prejudices on the DOE as an employer."

"This is a stunning and important vindication of what Debbie and her supporters have been claiming all along--that the Department of Education succumbed to anti-Muslim and anti-Arab prejudice, committing a terrible injustice and sending a dangerous message about the ability of voices of bigotry and hatred to determine which public schools get to exist and who should lead them," said educator and writer Paula Hajar.

The Commission also held that Debbie was the victim of discrimination when she subsequently applied for the position of permanent principal.

It was "clear," the commission held, that, when she applied, she was not evaluated on the basis of her credentials, noting that the DOE had announced before Almontaser's application was ever seen "that she would not be considered" for the position.

"I am delighted by the EEOC's Determination, a step on the road to justice for Debbie Almontaser. It is high time for the DOE to admit that it has done her a terrible wrong. Her good name and reputation deserve to be redeemed," said Rabbi Ellen Lippmann of Congregation Kolot Chayeinu, one of the signatories of the letter from Jewish leaders in support that was sent to the Mayor and Chancellor last year.

Commenting on the Commission's finding, Alan Levine, one of Debbie's lawyers, said "Debbie Almontaser was victimized twice: first, when she was subjected to an ugly smear campaign orchestrated by anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bigots, and second, when the DOE capitulated to their bigotry.

"But the bigots didn't have the power to take her job away. The DOE did. To its everlasting shame, the DOE did the bigots' work. Now the EEOC has reminded us that it is the responsibility of government to stand up to the forces of discrimination, not to give into them," Alan said.

In a letter accompanying its Determination, the EEOC has asked the DOE to consider Almontaser's demand for reinstatement and an award of damages.