(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 11/22/2016) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today called for increased protection of Muslim students in that state's schools following an incident in which an Afton Lakeland Elementary School 5th grade student allegedly brought an air pistol to school after he threatened to shoot a Somali-American Muslim 3rd grade student.

Parents of the student reported to CAIR-MN that on Friday, November 11, the 5th grader threatened to shoot the Muslim student. On Monday, November 14, the same 5th grader reportedly brought an air pistol to school. The school bus driver confiscated the air pistol and called the police.

"Thankfully, a major tragedy was averted by the quick action of the school bus driver," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein. "We are asking all school districts across the state to step up protection for Muslim and other minority students in the wake of this incident and because of the wave of racist and anti-Muslim incidents nationwide following the November 8 election."

Hussein added that an early response to bullying incidents can prevent further harm to students.

CAIR-MN is also looking into other recent incidents involving female Muslim students who were allegedly assaulted and had their religious head scarves (hijabs) pulled in Northdale Middle School and St Louis Park High School. Students in St Louis Park reported the incident occurred on November 11 and, to date, no actions have been brought against the student who allegedly committed the assault. School officials have stated there is no evidence of the assault, even after three eyewitnesses reported the incident.

On Friday, November 18th, 2016, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., CAIR-MN will host a Town Hall Community Forum to discuss the aftermath of the presidential election. We wish to hold space for our community members and neighbors who would like to discuss what is Next?

CLICK ON POSTER FOR LINK TO RSVP.

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 11/15/2016) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today expressed concern about the lack of response by school officials in Coon Rapids, Minn., to an alleged assault on a Muslim middle schooler.

CAIR-MN says the family of the Northdale Middle School student reported that their child is feeling emotionally and physically distressed after she was allegedly assaulted on Friday by a classmate who came up behind her and violently pulled off her Islamic head scarf (hijab) and threw it on the ground. The classmate also pulled on her hair and let it come down in front of other students. The Muslim student now feels unsafe in the school and has yet to return to school.

School officials did not respond to the incident until Tuesday, despite the fact that the incident was reported immediately by the student and after being contacted by the family on Friday.

"School officials must take immediate actions to ensure that all students, regardless of their faith or ethnicity, are provided a safe learning environment," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein. "It should not take days to respond to an apparently bias-motivated assault on a student."

He said CAIR has noted a spike in incidents targeting American Muslims and other minority groups since the November 8 presidential election.