On February 20, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted an event with CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), educating Irvington students on Islamophobia, their rights, and resources to handle discrimination during lunch.
CAIR, an organization that advocates for Muslim rights in the U.S., presented a slideshow informing students on how to handle Islamophobia in schools and in the broader world. The event aimed to provide both awareness and support, equipping students with knowledge of their legal protections and ways to combat discrimination.
Muzainah Uddin (12), MSA President, explained, “The Council on American-Islamic Relations is a legal organization that’s aimed towards supporting Muslims through Islamophobia in America and is comparable to the function of the NAACP.”
As part of their broader outreach efforts, CAIR also collected data through a survey on the experiences of Muslim students at Irvington, particularly in light of global conflict worldwide. By gathering first-hand accounts, the organization hopes to assess the current climate and better advocate for students facing discrimination.
The collaboration between MSA and CAIR played a key role in executing the event. CAIR originally reached out to MSA, as they regularly partner with high school MSAs to address Islamophobia at a grassroots level. Their expertise and resources helped shape the event’s structure and impact.
Fatima Salman (11) described, “CAIR reached out to us because they know Islamophobia also occurs in high school. They wanted to do a collaboration with us and planned most of the event by creating the post and the slideshow. They were really enthusiastic and adamant about getting their message out here.”
Haadiyah Pathan (10), an officer in MSA, elaborated, “Islamophobia is basically prejudice and stereotyping or being racist to Muslims.” “Islamophobia is significant for people who don’t live in places like these, or in future areas like colleges that are less liberal,” stated Fatima Salman (11).
The event also provided critical information for Muslim students about their rights and strategies for standing up against discrimination. CAIR’s resources included legal guidance and real-world scenarios to help students navigate challenges they may face both inside and outside of school.
Due to CAIR’s assistance, MSA didn’t face many challenges in planning the event, but ensuring enough student engagement remained a concern. However, the promise of free pizza and T-shirts increased turnout, drawing a large and diverse crowd. The event ran smoothly with the support of the school administration and CAIR’s guidance, making it a seamless experience for both organizers and attendees.
For many participants, the best part of the event was gaining valuable knowledge from the presentation, particularly regarding legal rights. “Having all of the Muslim students in one place and connecting with everyone all at once was also nice,” shared one student.
Ultimately, the event was a great success, not only as an educational opportunity but also as a way for students to connect with one another and build a stronger sense of community. By fostering these conversations, MSA and CAIR helped create a space for awareness, solidarity, and empowerment on campus.
