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 Jim McIntyre has rescinded approval for an upcoming event at Farragut High School that some said discriminated against Muslims.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 AbdelRahman 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.
“Part of what makes America great is the ability to have discussions and unfortunately we may disagree with some of those discussions, and so as the Muslim community of Knoxville we’re not in disagreement about whether people should be allowed to have discussions or you know the venues where,” said Murphy.
This venue just happens to be Farragut High School, and some feel this type of event should not be allowed there.
“Feel free hosting it anywhere else by renting out a banquet hall, but to host it at a public place is one that is not comfortable for the rest of us to know about,” said Murphy.
6 News reached out to the Knoxville chapter of ACT! for America. They say it is about education.
“He is going to be coming to share with us his expertise on what Shari’a law can be doing to Tennessee and to America as a whole,” said John Peach with ACT! For America.
They also say 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.
There is no word yet if ACT! for America plans to hold the event in a new venue.
John Peach issued this statement late Friday afternoon:
“Why is it that Muslims engage in teaching about how good Islam is for Tennessee at the Cedar Bluff Library - a public building, but they feel “uncomfortable” when ACT! for America plans an event to show the opposite viewpoint at a public building? (This is documented as follows):
“Muslims like the support the University of Tennessee gives them to host activities and venues on their campus. Furthermore, it likes its Muslim Student Association (MSA) to hold events at their tax supported public UT campus.
“Why is it that all Tennessee social study textbooks to be authorized for use in our public schools must be approved by Muslim affiliates? (Hundreds of reviews have exposed the fact that our textbooks are overwhelmingly biased toward Muslims over Christianity and Judaism, with Islam always portrayed as being more significant than all other religions).
“Political Correctness has gone amuck and is destroying our country. Whatever happened to freedom of speech? If it’s right for Muslims to host events in tax-funded public facilities, then what is wrong with a group of citizens wanting the same privilege?
“Last December, ACT! for America - Knoxville Chapter was granted permission by Knox County Schools to use the facilities of Farragut High School to hold an educational forum including two speakers, followed by an opportunity for the public to answer any questions of the two. This we called the Town Hall – Farragut.
“We in good faith and urgent vitality have been promoting this event for the past four months, believing we were following all the guidelines given to us. We have spent over $1500.00 to advance this cause, including taking out a special insurance policy just to cover this occasion.
“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.”