CAIR-Minnesota backs federal lawsuit following Chisago Lakes teen’s suicide
[KSTP-TV]
The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Minnesota (CAIR-Minnesota) as well as the CAIR National Legal Defense Fund (CAIR LDF) have announced the filing of a federal lawsuit on behalf of Jacob Letourneau-Elsharkawy’s estate.
LeTourneau-Elsharkawy was 15 years old at the time he died by suicide and was a student at Chisago Lakes High School.
His mother said he endured months of being bullied and was physically assaulted. His family alleges the school did not do enough to stop the verbal and physical attacks. At the time, the school district disputed those claims.
More from KSTP.com:
CAIR welcomes investigation into student’s suicide
Mother says Chisago Lakes student killed himself after being bullied, assaulted
CAIR-Minnesota reports the lawsuit is in an effort "to seek justice for Letourneau-Elsharkawy’s family and fight for positive changes in how Chisago Lakes School District and other schools in Minnesota address bullying."
Wednesday, the district issued the following statement to 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS:
"The District continues to empathize with Jacob’s family. We are sad for his mother, step-father, his siblings and friends. Jacob’s absence is a hole in their lives and our student body that cannot be filled.
"The District denies the statements made in the CAIR press release related to bullying. The Minnesota Department of Education carefully examined the District’s actions and in April of 2019, determined that the District complied with all applicable laws and policies related to bullying."
CAIR-Minnesota was expected to hold a news conference on the matter Wednesday.