April 9, 2014
Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre has rescinded approval for an upcoming event at Farragut High School that some said discriminated against Muslims.
“The primary purpose of our school facilities is to provide a safe, healthy and comfortable learning environment for our students. When other uses of the facility begin to impinge on or interfere with the administration’s ability to provide a suitable education atmosphere, it is necessary for us to reconsider that use,” read a letter sent to the group on Friday.
ACT! For America had planned on hosting what they called a town hall meeting to learn about Shari’a law, but some believe the group is doing more harm than good.
“It’s kind of an aggressive tone on the flyer,” said Abdel Rahman Murphy.
A flyer directing people to the town hall meeting by ACT! for America discussing Islam recently caught the attention of some people in the Knoxville Muslim community.
Murphy is the University of Tennessee Muslim Chaplain. He says he was contacted by a friend who saw it and raised concerns.
6 News reached out to the Knoxville chapter of ACT! for America. They say it is about education.
John Peach with ACT! For America implied that the venue simply should not matter.
“We feel like it’s very important that we have our public institutions take part in this because it’s not meant to be a religious thing. It’s not a political thing. It’s particularly for education purposes,” said Peach.
“The purpose of the meeting was to educate our local citizens about the dangers of Sharia Law, especially as it negatively affects our children, our churches, our law enforcement personnel, and our community leaders. Now, due to the fear of Muslims in the Knoxville area, the venue for the event that was open to everyone was cancelled. This is a great example of what Sharia Law is doing to America.”
There is no word yet if ACT! for America plans to hold the event in a new venue.
Whilst, The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today said it has joined with concerned Muslims in Tennessee in welcoming cancellation of an anti-Muslim event scheduled for April 24 at a Knoxville high school.
6 ABC News: http://www.wate.com/story/25220254/upcoming-event-at-high-school-as-some-muslims-on-edge
