Minnesota educators call Muslim ban 'wrong,' pledge to resist politics of fear

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ST. PAUL, Minn, Jan. 30, 2017 – Education Minnesota President Denise Specht released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to bar millions of refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entry into the United States.

“America has always called itself the land of opportunity for people yearning to be free, and for almost as long, public schools have transformed immigrants and refugees from all over the world into Americans. ‘They’ and ‘them,’ become ‘we’ and ‘us,’ in public schools. 

“As president of Education Minnesota, I am proud to say Minnesota’s educators will honor our responsibility to welcome and teach every student who walks through the schoolhouse doors. Today we stand with Muslim students and their families in saying this travel ban is wrong and violates our American ideals, just as we have stood for immigrants from Laos, Somalia, Thailand, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Mexico and as our forerunners once spoke up for immigrant children from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Germany.

“The politics of fear, which are behind this executive order, will never flourish in Minnesota schools. Educators spend their days with students of many faiths and languages and we are enriched by the experience. Our students learn together so they may one day live together. They see that fearing a faith is a sign of ignorance, not courage, and that may give us all hope for a better future.”

About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota’s members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota’s public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota’s community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.