GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Community members are calling for the dismissal and resignation of Gaston County School Board Member Tod Kinlaw following a controversial social media post regarding the Islamic faith.
Leaders from the Islamic Center of Charlotte and the NAACP have criticized the post, which described Islam as a “satanic cult.”
The post, which has since been deleted, labeled Allah “Satan” and Muhammad a “false prophet.”
Leaders at the Islamic Center of Charlotte are calling for Kinlaw’s immediate dismissal, stating that he is “promoting Islamophobia.”
The center argued that because Kinlaw is a leader for publicly funded government schools, he should be held to a higher standard of conduct.
Kinlaw acknowledged creating the post but defended his actions as a matter of constitutional rights. “That was my post, I did it, the most revered speech in all of America is political free speech,” Kinlaw said.
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While he has since deleted the content, he maintained his stance regarding the teachings of Islam. “It wasn’t toward Muslims, it was toward the Islamic faith,” Kinlaw said.
Kinlaw identifies as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ and stated that his religious convictions are the basis for his opposition to Islamic ideology.
“I’m a born-again believer in Christ, and so that ideology goes directly against my faith and my beliefs,” Kinlaw said.
He expressed some regret for the “undue public view” the controversy brought to others, but did not retract his statements regarding the faith itself.
“Do I regret it, maybe somewhat to a little bit of a degree, because it brings undue public view of other folks,” Kinlaw said.
Sean Bates, president of the Gaston County NAACP, argued that Kinlaw’s public statements create a dangerous environment for students and staff.
“You aren’t just putting students in danger, you’re also creating a divisive system inside of each school that can openly run now,” Bates said.
Bates called for the board member to voluntarily leave his position. “I think he should do the right thing and step down,” he explained.
As a member of the school board, Kinlaw helps set policies that affect thousands of students in the county. Bates expressed concern that Kinlaw’s personal views could eventually lead to discriminatory rules.
“Are you going to start to set rules that, oh, Muslim kids aren’t even allowed in school because you’re a satanic cult, as opposed to, you are just a student,” Bates said.
Bates emphasized that the safety of anyone from a different faith or culture is at risk under such leadership.
The chairman of the Gaston County School Board released a statement regarding the matter, noting that elected officials are expected to represent all people regardless of religion, beliefs, and background.
The chairman clarified that the actions of an individual member do not represent the full board.
Furthermore, the statement noted that the board of education does not possess the legal authority to remove an elected member from office.
Kinlaw has not indicated plans to step down but said he is open to a meeting with the Muslim community.
“I would consider that, yessir, and I’ll do whatever I can to bring love and encouragement to folks,” Kinlaw said.
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Jibril Hough of the Islamic Center of Charlotte released a statement regarding the incident, saying:
“I think the Gaston County School Board should seek his immediate dismissal. There should be no room for anyone in a position of leadership in our public/government schools promoting such Islamophobic propaganda. Our school systems serve a very diverse demographic, including a growing Muslim population. This type of language puts our students’ lives in danger.
This type of language from the top contributes to the atmosphere that could produce more and put the safety of our Muslim children at risk. Our first priority even before teaching our students is their safety and creating an atmosphere where they feel welcome, which results in schools that are conducive to learning. If we can’t create a safe and welcoming space for our children, we can’t expect them to learn and excel in their studies.
The God of Islam is the same God of all three Abrahamic religions, including Christianity. It’s the way of life of all the prophets from Adam to Muhammad (may peace be upon them). We can differ, but we must have respect and dignity.
While he has the First Amendment right to say and post what he pleases. While he’s in a position of leadership in publicly funded government schools, he should be held to a higher standard. His position comes with a higher responsibility, and he has produced a failing grade. He must go, especially since he’s shown no remorse for his damaging social media post."
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