Samir Munshi urges commission to protect conscience and speech rights in classrooms after Montgomery County opt-out fight

Samir Munshi, an activist and former executive director of the Coalition of Virtue, told the commission that families in Montgomery County, Maryland, mounted protests in 2023 after the Montgomery County Public School System said it would no longer allow parents to opt their children out of mandatory classroom content on gender and related topics. "The efforts of these families ultimately led to the Supreme Court case, Mahmood versus Taylor, that recently ruled in favor of their rights," Munshi said.

Munshi said he was invited to speak because of his work with families and students during the 2023 opt-out protests and that the community included Muslim, Christian and Jewish parents. He said those families were concerned when the district moved from a prior practice allowing opt-outs to a policy removing that option. Munshi identified himself as the former executive director of the Coalition of Virtue and as a current member of an advisory board to the Religious Liberty Commission.

In his remarks, Munshi framed the Montgomery County events as an example of why the commission should consider formal steps to protect freedom of conscience and freedom of speech in classrooms. He said his organizing work with affected families and students informed his request that the commission act to ensure parental and student rights are respected in classroom instruction.

The transcripts for these segments do not record any formal response or immediate action by the commission. No motions or votes are recorded in the provided segments.

Munshi closed by offering background on the protests and urging the commission to consider measures that would protect conscience and speech rights in school settings.