The School of Urban Education (UED) invites the public to a forum to express solidarity with Muslim communities and to discuss the current news headlines that attack and place blame on people of color and these communities.
The forum will gather from 6 to 8 p.m., Jan. 29 in the Founder’s Hall auditorium on Metropolitan State University’s Saint Paul Campus, 700 E. Seventh Street. A panel of speakers will include UED staff, students and faculty, who will discuss with the community how we can unite to counter the racism and bigotry that divides us.
In a letter to students, they state “The School of Urban Education is deeply troubled and offended by the increase in racist, Islamophobic, xenophobic, and fascist-like remarks made over the past several weeks by politicians and ordinary citizens in response to terrorism, the Syrian refugee crises, and struggles for justice against repeated police killings of unarmed black and brown people. The Urban Teacher Program (UTP) is a community, and we express deep empathy with Muslim students and colleagues who walk through everyday experiences feeling under surveillance and yet unseen.
“We live in a time when people can no longer hide beneath the pain of others, but find a way to end the pain with the solidarity that is needed to bring ‘tidings of comfort and joy’ to all of us with ‘liberty and justice for all.’ We want to be clear that we stand in solidarity against such bigotry and united in our common dream of liberation for children historically, and currently, underserved, dismissed, and blamed all in one. We are educators, and we will continue to push forward in the spirit of our shared work in educating urban children and youth and towards the creation of a more just community.”
Metropolitan State University is dedicated to its role as an urban university committed to meeting the higher education needs of the Twin Cities and greater metropolitan population. A section of Metropolitan State’s Value Statement reads “We celebrate and include all voices in our quest for quality higher education. We value all forms of diversity, no matter one’s ethnicity, religious or sexual preferences, income level, learning style or area of academic focus. All are welcomed. All are valued.” Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the office of Urban Education.
Persons with disabilities who need reasonable accommodation to participate in this event should call Disability Services at 651-793-1549 or e-mail disability.services@metrostate.edu.