NJ Muslim Parents Militant About School Closure for Eid - Clarion

by Clarion

While the students may take the day off with no penalities, the school board refused to inconvenience 5-10,000 parents with 6 days notice.

"We will be the majority soon," says one participant ominously in the debate with the school board.

After a heated four-hour debate with Muslim residents, a Jersey City school board decided not to close the city’s school’s for today’s Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. The school board cited the short notice of the request (made only six days ago) and the fact that the request would cause “undue hardship on close to 5-10,000 people who would have to scrabble to get coverage for their children.”

The debate was particularly contentious, with one school board official instructing security personnel to “take charge” of the situation.

 “We’re no longer the minority,” said one Muslim participant to the school board. “That’s clear from tonight. We’re going to be the majority soon,” she declared (see video below).

The school board stressed that Muslim students would be excused from school with no penalties, just as Jewish children are excused for Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur when Jersey City’s schools remain open.




Clarion

Source: http://www.clarionproject.org/news/nj-muslim-parents-militant-about-school-closure-eid

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