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What's New? Upcoming Events Watch Listen Pressroom View iWord Survey results Take the Intifada Litmus Test View Intifada Litmus Test Results	KIGA 101: Tell Us What You Know Our Youth Media Organizers have created a survey to find out exactly what people know about the Khalil Gibran International Academy, set the record straight and show the Mayor and Department of Education a united voice demanding that they give KGIA the resources and leadership that it needs and that our youth deserve. Please take 1 Minute and Take the Survey! Our Summer Experience Handala as a Girl We adapted Handala into a girl, making it our logo in May of 2006. Instead of a sword, she clenches a microphone: The girl on the t-shirt is an adaptation of Palestinian cartoonist, Naji Al-Ali's most famous character, Handala. He is a child named after a bitter medicinal gourd that grows in the Sahara Desert and is a symbol of Palestinian resistance. Our character is designed from the perspective of women but speaks to all human beings facing oppression. Check out our Handala T-shirts and learn how we made them. Now she needs a name. Send us your ideas. if we pick your submission then we'll send you a Handala Girl or Intifada NYC T-shirt. Fresh Words My Heart-Shaped Scar (1 minute audio) Earth Day Poem (2 minute video) A Victory Thursday, March 20 Today, appeals court judges released their decision. They upheld the district court's denial of a preliminary injunction (a requirement that the Department of Eduction return Debbie Almontaser to her post at the Khalil Gibran International Academy until the court makes further decisions). However, they sent the case back to the district court without confirming Judge Sidney Stein's ruling that Debbie's speech on the word, intifada was not constitutionally protected. So the ball is back in Stein's court. He has to rule on Debbie's demand that her application to the position of principal be fairly considered by the Department of Education. There are two claims being considered-a First Amendment claim and a claim that she was discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, and national origin. A couple of articles have gotten it wrong--they have said the judges agreed with the lower court that her rights were not protected by the first amendment. That is not accurate, and corrections have been requested. The judges also made it clear in their decision, as well as in court at the hearing, that they did not believe the DOE treated Debbie fairly when they forced her to resign for the way in which her words were misinterpreted by the Post. This is also important. The Latest: KGIA Teacher Speaks Out for the First Time: Sean Grogan KGIA Science Teacher reveals what has been happening inside the school, Thursday, January 17. Fatin Jarara KGIA Family Member, Thursday, January 17. Read Transcripts and CISKGIA Press Release, Thursday, January 17 The Intifada Litmus Test. . . On Tuesday, January 8, the Department of education tapped Holly Reichert to take on the position of principal at the Khalil Gibran International Academy. On her first day there, Reichert answered a question from reporters on the i Word: "It's a word that connotes tremendous violent conflict, and I don't think it should be used casually, as on a T-shirt." This comes at a time when the school's founding principal, Debbie Almontaser, is fighting in court to get her job back after being ousted for properly defining the word, Intifada. Since this is an issue so important to so many people, we're asking you: Would the DOE have given the job to someone who would not condemn Intifada or the t-shirts? Click here to answer and/or share your thoughts. View Responses In December. . . Judge to Rule on Debbie Almontaser's Application for the Principalship of the Khalil Gibran International Academy Alan Levine Debbie's Lawyer discusses the hearing, Monday, December 3. This Wednesday, Federal District Judge Sidney Stein will rule on whether Debbie Almontaser's application for the position of permanent principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy was considered on its merits or if Almontaser's First Amendment Rights were violated in the Department of Education's treatment of her application. If the court finds that Almontaser's application was not considered on its merits, the judge may: A. Block the appointment of a permanent principal, which is scheduled for this Thursday, December 6, AND allow for Debbie's application to be properly considered. And B. Provide for impartial consideration of Almontaser's application, rather than having her application reviewed in a DOE-controlled process. In November. . . Debbie filed a law suit against the Department of Education, the Chancellor and the Mayor: Legal: Alan Levine, Debbie's Lawyer Education: Councilman Robert Jackson Steve Quester, UFT Chapter Leader Gladys Sotomayor, KGIA Design Team Member Michelle Fine, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Urban Education, The Graduate Center, CUNY Community: Faiza Ali, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) NY Councilman Charles Barron Mona Eldahry, Founding Director, AWAAM Bill Henning, Vice President, Communication Workers of America, Local 1180 Abdeen Jabara, Civil Rights Lawyer, Former President of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Rabbi Rolando Matalon Tahani Salah, Poet, MC, Former Student of Debbie Roger Wareham, Civil Rights Lawyer, December 12th Coalition Read More: Communities in Support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy website In October. . . Debbie submitted her application to the Department of Education for the position of Principal at the Khalil Gibran International Academy Tuesday. Watch her and others speak on the steps of City Hall: Debbie Almontaser Naamah Paley, KGIA Intern Alan Levine, Debbie's Lawyer Councilwoman Leticia James Councilman Robert Jackson Councilman John Liu Borough President, Marty Markowitz Representative, Mohammad Razvi Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid Rabbi Michael Feinberg In Late August. . . Elected officials joined parents and Communities in Support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy September 19 to tell the Department of Education that we will not be silent, and we need to BRING DEBBIE BACK! Who, you ask? Well, watch the videos. . . Councilman John Liu Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz Senator Bill Perkins Councilman Bob Jackson, Chair of Education Committee (click here, then click reload) Read More Press Release 9-20-07 Opening Statement Michelle Fine's Statement Rabbi Matalon's Statement Yassky's Letter to the Editor About Communities in Support of the Khalil Gibran International Academy In Early August. . . View videos from community event in support of KGIA (in order of appearance): Rabbi Michael Feinberg, Executive Director, Greater New York Labor Religion Coalition Mona Eldahry, Founding Director, AWAAM Deborah Howard, Member, KGIA Planning Team Priscilla Gonzalez, Center for Immigrant Families Sara Said, KGIA Student Family Member Reverend Clinton Miller, Brown Memorial Babtist Church View our youth organizers' statement regarding the controversy: Silenced by the Media, by AWAAM Youth Organizers	News Battle Over a Brooklyn School 2008-04-29 NY Times Front Page Intifada Queens? 2008-04-27 On Sean Bell A Victory for Debbie's Case 2008-03-20 Appeals Court Sends Arab American Educator's Case Back to Court for Full Trial Listen! 2007-12-05 Guantanamo Case, Asians in the Media, Debbie's Case McCarthyism and The Jewish Week 2007-11-21 Listen 2007-11-20 Center for Immigrant Families and AWAAM on KGIA, Law and Disorder Debbie Almontaser Reapplies 2007-10-15 Debbie Almontaser speaks out for first time, reapplies for KGIA principal position. Listen 2007-09-21 KGIA Planning Team Member and AWAAM Director, Beyond the Pale Another Academic Oppression Case: Barnard College 2007-09-10 NY times My name is Debbie Almontaser 2007-09-10 From Yemen to Coney Island March! Sunday Sept. 9th 12pm 2007-09-08 Stop the Madrassa is Crashing Muslim Day Parade Why Didn't They Stick Up For Her??? 2007-09-08 unpublished letter to the times.. IPA NEWS RELEASE 2007-09-07 Finkelstein * Mearsheimer/Walt * Khalil Gibran School By Debbie Almontaser 2007-09-07 Arabic Public School Will Unite, Not Divide Us Critics Ignored Record of a Muslim Principal 2007-08-30 The Times Gets it Right! Public Education and Global Politics 2007-08-29 Who is behind the Stop the Madrassa Coalition? 2007-08-25 by Fadi New Arabic Language School Raises No Red Flags For NYCLU 2007-08-24 Deborah Howard 2007-08-23 KGIA Design Team Member Speaks Out Angry Brown Butch on the i word and kgia. 2007-08-22 Politics, Media, Culture and Life from a Queer Boriqua in Brooklyn Get Your Blog On! 2007-08-20 What do you think? Letter Writing Anyone? 2007-08-17 Letter CIF sent to UFT President Randi Weingarten Your Responses 2007-08-14 Statements of support ( View all news )

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