According to Laine, Nichols said in his resignation letter, “I take responsibility for the online Facebook comment about a few of my co-workers at my full-time job in Chanhassen that was offensive to the Muslim community”.
Advertisement
Nichols apologized for the hurt the controversy has caused the Muslim community, the school district and its students.
He added that he wanted to “end the turmoil” surrounding the district he cares about.
A state legislator and the leader of an Islamic civil rights group say a Columbia Heights school board member accused of making an offensive comment on Facebook about Muslims has agreed to step down.
Columbia Heights school district sent out a statement Monday saying that Nichols’ resignation has been placed on Tuesday’s school board agenda. Laine said Nichols signed a letter stating his intent to leave the board effective Tuesday. The post targeted the bathroom habits of Muslims and called them “unsanitary”. One high school student spoke during the public comment period and told Nichols, “I hope you’re doing well…I want to apologize if I said anything hurtful toward you”.
“We have accepted [Nichols’] apology and applaud his efforts to be an advocate to Muslims everywhere and especially in Columbia Heights”, said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein in the release.
Laine said everyone in the meeting read the letter. “It’s important to understand that Muslims are Americans as well and they deserve the same rights and responsibilities”.
“We believe as the community needs now and the school board needs and this district needs for us to come together and heal”. A community event, “Muslim Voices”, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Islamic Center of Minnesota in Fridley. Students and staff at Columbia Heights High School staged a walkout and the school board debated twice whether to force Nichols off the board.
Advertisement
Nichols claimed someone else had taken control of his phone and made the post, but the furor did not die down. The following week, the board passed a resolution calling for Nichols’ resignation, but he refused. Then in a move that seemed to surprise his fellow board members Nichols requested to shake their hands as he stepped off the board.
