Group sues Ohio school after CAIR forces cancellation of anti-jihad speech

In March of this year, the NAACP teamed up with Hamas-linked CAIR to get an anti-sharia speech banned from the premises of an Ohio school. The excuse used to limit free speech rights this time was security. Why would a speech exposing the threats posed by jihad and sharia law result in an unmanageable security situation?

Are adherents of the so-called ‘religion of peace’ in Ohio so opposed to critical discussion of Islam that they’d result to violence on school grounds to prevent such speech? Maybe, and if not, that is simply part of the strategy. Strike fear in the hearts of the unbelievers – to prevent even the mere discussion of Islam and jihad and sharia law. via Mansfield City Schools want tea party suit dropped

MANSFIELD — Mansfield City Schools has asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Mansfield North Central Ohio Tea Party Association against the school district.

The tea party group sued the district in April, claiming the school violated its civil rights when it withdrew permission for a controversial event to take place on school grounds.

The non-school event was a presentation by Usama Dakdok, characterized by some as “anti-Islam,” on March 28.

The district filed a response to the tea party’s lawsuit May 25. It claims the school acted within its rights when it withdrew permission for the event, and that it did so for student safety.

“Defendants withdrew permission for the lecture due to concerns about student safety based upon the uncertainty caused by receipt of numerous emails from unknown people around the country and subsequent lack of assurance from local law enforcement personnel regarding student safety and order at the event,” the district states.

Mansfield Superintendent Dan Freund announced the morning of March 28 that the school would not host the event, citing safety concerns echoed by police about the number of people who would turn out to support or oppose Dakdok.

The tea party group accused the district of canceling the event because of pressure from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Mansfield branch of the NAACP and other organizations.

“Defendants specifically admit that the only discussions held with representatives from either the CAIR or the NAACP was one telephone conversation on March 24, during which Freund informed an individual from the NAACP that despite its objections, defendants intended to allow the March 28 lecture to continue as scheduled,” the district states.

Freund told the News Journal on March 25 the tea party event would be allowed, and defended the right of groups — including those with controversial views — to use school facilities.

The district says its position changed when it became clear student safety was an issue. Mansfield police Chief Dino Sgambellone told the News Journal on March 29 it was his belief that allowing the tea party event on school property presented a potentially dangerous situation.

The tea party group has said the school should have been able to provide adequate security. The group believes the district denied its freedom of speech by not allowing the event. The group was able to find an alternate location for its speaking event, and it was held the same day without incident.

The tea party group filed suit against the Mansfield City Schools Board of Education on April 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The suit seeks damages, reimbursement for court costs and access for all groups to school facilities.

Mansfield City Schools has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit and for the plaintiff to reimburse the district for costs incurred from the litigation.

The group’s spokesperson had this to say:

“Don’t tell us what to say.  Don’t tell us what to hear.  We ain’t living under Sharia Law – yet.”

We aren’t living under sharia law yet, but there is no doubt we are living with it, right here in the U.S. Will we be living under it in 50 years? CAIR has their vision.

More on Usama Dakdok, here.