SOUTHFIELD — The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR-MI) this week welcomed a decision of the Farmington School
Board to grant approval for the sale of a closed school to be used as an
Islamic educational and activity center, despite an anti-Muslim campaign to
block the deal.

The sale of the former Eagle Elementary School to the
Islamic Cultural Association was granted by a unanimous vote. Eagle Elementary
School was slated for demolition.

Some 200 people, many of them members of the pro-Israeli
occupation group Stand With Us, attempted to block the sale of the school by
making public comments about being fearful of Muslims and expressing concerns
that property values will decrease if Muslims congregate there.

aAccording to a report about last night’s debate:
“Farmington School Board members bluntly criticized rudeness and
expressions of bigotry they heard during the meeting.”

“We welcome the decision of the Farmington School Board
to allow the re-vitalization of a closed school, despite the hate expressed by
a small but vocal group of bigots,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud
Walid.  “We thank leaders
within the Jewish community for taking a strong stance against those who
promote intolerance and Islamophobia.”

Walid addressed the school board prior to the vote and
raised concerns that the rhetoric expressed by community members about property
values decreasing if Muslims come into the neighborhood sounded similar those
that have historically attempted to block African-Americans from moving into
certain areas.

Other advocates that addressed the board in favor of selling
the school were Betsy Kellman of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Robert
Cohen of the Jewish Community Relations Committee of Metropolitan Detroit.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy
organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage
dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build
coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.