Stop the NY Public School Madrassa Press Conference

The stop the madrassa coalition held a press conference to raise serious questions regarding the propriety of opening Khalil Gibran International Academy

Desiree Bernstein, representing the families of 9/11, was erudite, well spoken, and committed. Big time.  She came out strong against the NY public school madrassa. Video is MIA.

The Warriors (Beth Galinsky address the press.) I got there late and missed speaking. Hey it was the first day of school - orientation.

Eblan Farris  one of the Founders of The Friends of Gibran Council, and is also a founding member of the United States Chapter of the World Council of the Cedars Revolution which has as its main goal the freedom, democracy and independence of Lebanon states emphatically that the Khahil Gibran name not be used for the madrassa.

Frank Gaffney, Center for Security Policy: Frank Gaffney is the Founder and President of the Center for Security Policy in Washington, D.C. and Brian Rooney, Thomas More Law Center, an attorney, and  a Marine Captain who  spent two years recently in Iraq.

Frank Gaffney, Atlas (Pamela Geller), Eblan Farris, an American of Lebanese descent, is one of the Founders of The Friends of Gibran Council, and is also a founding member of the United States Chapter of the World Council of the Cedars Revolution which has as its main goal the freedom, democracy and independence of Lebanon.

The Q & aAwas a joke. The reporters yelling "why are you calling it a madrassa?" "How do you know what they will teach?" "Why are you against an Arabic school? "Isn't this tied to the Israel/Palestinian conflict?"

The coalition said, we are just asking questions. Unanswered questions. Do you think for a moment that the press asks the imams on KGIA's religious board the same questions? Or asks anyone at KGIA any tough questions?

Frank Gaffney was the most hard hitting of the speakers particularly when he turned the tables on the press/reporters that were acting like handmaidens for Islamism. Gaffney shouted back, why aren't you asking these questions? Why aren't you dong your jobs? Why are you leaving it concerned parents and community members.

Why aren't they investigating the ties to terror on the "religious board of KGIA leaving it instead to  passionate citizens like Beila Rabinowitz and William Mayer.

Some random video clips. I was moving my baggage last night and my camera fell out of my bag  and broke so I lost my best piece of equipment. A real drag. The hopeless replacement was difficult to operate made painfully obvious by the video I didn't get. Anyone who took video for my interviews either neglacted to push the button or pushed it too many times. Needless to say some of the best video moments are not here. Hopefully I will find them online.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue

Stop the insanity.

The unfamous lunatic "rabbi" Feingold lurking in the crowd: Does KGIA Supporter Michael Feinberg Also Support Hamas?

Followed by a lovely lunch with members of the coalition. Frank, Stuart, Irene, Gathering of Eagle supporters, wonderful fighters. Thanks to all.

UPDATE: Urban Infidel was there and grabbed some great pics. Excellent edit as well. Go now.

The new organization, Citizens for American Values in Public Education, will expand the fight nationwide to stop the imposition of radical Islamist agendas in curricula, Arabic language programs, history classes, textbooks, teacher training, and charter schools. The organization is distributing a new publication nationwide in October: "Stop the Madrassa: A Citizens Guide to Islamist Curricula In Public Schools."  An early draft of the publication will be released at the press conference.

Jeffrey S. Wiesenfeld is a former aide to Governor Pataki Senator D'Amato, Mayor Ed Koch and other public officials and a current trustee of the City University of New Yorkand other educational institutions and non-profits.

Comments

[chsw]

And where to be found is Rev. Barry Lynn? Hello? Rev. Lynn? You head an organization that opposes using tax dollars to support religion. Have you said anything about this? Because it is not a menorah or a kresh in a public park does that mean it is too hot for you to touch? Here is an entire school funded by the citizens of NYC and NY state and you say nothing.

chsw

[Josef K]

It's a shame you couldn't speak - you would be like an Israeli F-15 boring down on an Islamic MiG... :-).

Oh well, you'll get another chance. Please don't miss!!

[Armoured Passionfruit]

FANTASTIC! Great work Pamela.

You are the media and the leading light for America.

Damn good show girl.

[Shy Guy]

Pamela, Newt Gingrich gets it!

[Urban Infidel]

Another tremendous job, Pamela.

So glad that I can be a part of the solution with you.

And a thousand pardons for not getting the video, dear. I will make it up to you!

[sparrow]

Great work.

One thing worth considerng: Why not have the coalition oppose all dual language schools nationwide.? To state the obvious, students can take foreign languages in their normal junior high and high schools. If they, or their parents, have a special interest in that language, then there can be special language clubs or activities. Why is an entire new school needed for each language? This is bizzare. This includes the new Hebrew language school in Ft. Lauderdale, which also should not be allowed to open.

So much money is wasted on public education, and the dual langauge schools are just another example.

[The Sanity Inspector]

Bummer about the broken camera. But this is choice stuff, thanks so much for posting!