Thread by @AsraNomani

🧵8/28 I shared my heart was trembling at what @GovernorVA Sec of Education Atif Qarni had done. Read @AP @MattBarakat: Qarni defamed me as being in a "hate group" + has banned our PTSA from speaking at a "listening" session. Everybody should be outraged. apnews.com/4ffeff749724f5…

2) Atif Qarni initiated a call with TJ PTSA president + 8/28 alleged I'm in a "hate group" as designated by @splcenter. Which one? Muslim Reform Movement, he answered. It is NOT an SPLC hate group. We stand for peace, women's rights + secular governance. muslimreformmovement.org

3) Since my son was in kindergarten, I've been a @fcpsnews PTA volunteer. For 2 years, I've been a TJ PTSA corresponding secretary. I'm NOT writing in an official capacity here. Qarni was reaching into the TJ PTSA to block me as its rep at the listening session, smearing me.

4) A single mom, I've nurtured my son's learning since he was born. 8/28 my son was writing admissions essays for VA colleges @GovernorVA EdSec Atif Qarni oversees. How far will Qarni go in his retaliation? This isn't just about me. We must protect all voices from retaliation.

5) Parents in Virginia are getting wind of what @GovernorVA Virginia Secretary of Education has done, silencing the TJ PTSA out of retaliation against a parent (me), spreading lies and defamation.
Hashtag #QarniMustGo is taking off.

https://twitter.com/desidrakaina/status/1304112329240588290?s=20

Virginia Delegate Ibraheem Samirah joins @GovernorVA’s Sec of Education Atif Qarni’s defamation campaign against me, a Muslim feminist. I encourage everyone to follow the money on their political contributions. I’m a registered Democrat. This is okay with you @DNC @vademocrats?

Follow the money. Who funded the political campaigns of Atif Qarni? Who funds Ibrahim Samirah? Who funds the defamation by @bridgeinit against Muslim reformers such as me? They know I know. And I do know. That’s why they want to silence me. Even on a topic seemingly unrelated.

wonder why men who are political leaders in @vademocrats attack a PTSA mom for her involvement in Muslim Reform? read this piece on the honor brigade and its character assassination against those of us who oppose extremism. why are they afraid of me? washingtonpost.com/opinions/meet-…

🙏🏽 to all of you around the world like @NancyHartnett1 and at home like TJ student @TJANON3. This is true: courage means acting even in the face of fear. The future is being written by school boards & education secretaries. We MUST be vigilant to advocate with wisdom for youth.

https://twitter.com/NancyHartnett1/status/1304228790177017861

I bought a ticket for a fundraiser for Emgage, which gets Muslims elected to office. I asked headliners @timkaine @GhazalaHashmi about VA EdSec Atif Qarni banning the PTSA and me, a Muslim single mom from India, from speaking at a town hall. No answer. My pup Lily was not happy🐕

While @fcpsnews school board + @FCPSSupt rewrite their 9/15 "work session" to include "anti-racism" curriculum + possibly eliminate the TJ race-blind test THIS YEAR with COVID as an excuse, guess what's really happening? Hackers hijacked the FCPS system and stole personal data!

I write this piece for @PostOpinions and so many parents and students at TJ are writing to thank me. No thanks are necessary. I’ve just put in words the respect and honor i feel for them and their journeys to TJ. Let’s uplift, instead of destroy.

https://twitter.com/postopinions/status/1304502510514651136

Friday night after a long two weeks, I got this message from a parent at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. She’s an immigrant woman of color from India who has broken so many barriers in America. Let’s celebrate her willpower + value. And uplift all.