an Evening of Celebration&Performance in Support of the Khalil Gibran Int'l Acad

Seeking Justice, Speaking Truth: an Evening of Celebration and Performance in Support of The Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA)

The Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA) was founded as a place for our children and our city to learn about and celebrate Arabic language and culture. Then, however, hate groups rallied NYC tabloids and city leadership behind their agenda of racism and lies. Communities in Support of KGIA will not let anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate jeopardize this school and the ability of Arab and Muslim educators and administrators such as Debbie Almontaser to take leadership within it. Arabic culture is an essential part of the cultural mosaic of Brooklyn and all of NYC. Join us for a night of speakers, art, and performance highlighting the importance of KGIA, its goals and its purpose, as well as the challenges it faces.

We are individuals and organizations from a multitude of communities and backgrounds, who have come together in support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy. Both the school and its founding principal, Debbie Almontaser, have endured a vicious anti-Arab and anti-Musllim smear campaign for the past several months, which resulted in Ms. Almontaser?s resignation.

We believe that, had the school and Ms Almontaser received the support they deserved from the Department of Education (DOE), the Mayor, and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) President, voices of racism and bigotry would not have prevailed and Ms. Almontaser would still be principal.

The DOE has publicly stated its commitment to the Khalil Gibran International Academy. It is clear that the loss of the school?s highly-regarded leader three weeks before the school was scheduled to open was not in the best interest of the school and is a great threat to its well-being. What is best for the school, and what will enable it to flourish, is for its founder and principal to continue in her role at the school.

Therefore, we call upon the DOE to invite Debbie Almontaser to resume her position as principal of KGIA and to provide the school with the support that it needs to ward off and respond to any attacks from the outside.

We call on all communities to stand with us in support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy and to oppose any manifestations of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bigotry and hatred.

For More Info, & or show your support, click HERE!

AWAAM: Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media
Brooklyn For Peace (formerly Brooklyn Parents for Peace)
Center for Immigrant Families
Greater New York Labor-Religion Coaltion, New York, NY
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ)
Muslim Consultative Network
WFD Program Steering Committee at First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn

By Subway: F Train to 7th Ave or R Train to 4th Ave and 9th St.

For further information, email kgiasupport@gmail.com, or call (718) 624-5921.