CAIR-Pittsburgh Condemns Confederate Flag Attire at Pa. High School Homecoming Event, Demands Explanation
(PITTSBURGH, PA, 10/14/2021)– The Pittsburgh Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Pittsburgh), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned Confederate flag attire at a homecoming event at Norwin High School in Irwin, Pennsylvania.
On Monday, a Norwin High School student faced racial intimidation when students were permitted to wear clothing with a Confederate flag pattern. This was part of the school’s so-called “‘Merica Day” event during Homecoming Week and was promoted by the district. The high school students were encouraged on this day to wear red, white, and blue clothing.
The father of the intimidated student complained about the incident and how little is being done to address racial intimidation within the district. The students with the Confederate flags were made to remove the shirts late in the school day. Many students were offended, and this is not the first incident of racial intimidation in the Norwin school district.
SEE: Confederate clothing donned for Norwin’s ‘Merica Day homecoming event draws ire
In a statement, CAIR-Pittsburgh Executive Director Christine Mohamed said:
“It’s completely outrageous that a Confederate flag, a symbol of white supremacy and racial violence,
was permitted and even tolerated. The real tragedy here is that it feels intentional.
Is Norwin High the next training ground of white supremacists and insurrectionists?”
was permitted and even tolerated. The real tragedy here is that it feels intentional.
Is Norwin High the next training ground of white supremacists and insurrectionists?”
CAIR-Pittsburgh is asking the community to contact the school district at (724) 861-3000 and demand answers on how such a day was approved and promoted in a public school district, in the first place.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
END
CONTACT: CAIR Pittsburgh Executive Director Christine Mohamed, 412-606-3601 cmohamed@cair.com
