ATLANTA — A longtime bus driver for Atlanta Public Schools says she is no longer allowed to enter her assigned school, because the principal caught her praying to Allah.
A federal religious discrimination lawsuit has been filed against APS on behalf of Twanesia Crawford.
“I don't want to be treated as if I'm a monster when I come in to do my job,” cried Crawford.
Crawford told Channel 2's Nicole Carr that she's been employed as an APS bus driver since 1996 and is assigned to Hope-Hill Elementary School.
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In the fall of 2015, she and her attorneys say, per her routine, Crawford was praying in her empty school bus when the school’s principal confronted her.
“The principal of the school came up, knocked on the window and asked, ‘What are you doing?’” said Crawford’s attorney, A.J. Lakraj. “She said, ‘I'm praying to Allah,’ and she had her palms raised and the principal said, 'You can't do that here. You need to leave.'”
“Since that time (the principal) has prohibited her from being in the campus or on the campus, even to do something as simple as using the bathroom,” said attorney Amanda Farahany.
“I can’t go in,” said Crawford. “I can’t go in. I have to use the bathroom at a gas station.”
Lakraj said the grievances filed by Crawford were pushed to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
“They should have done something, and nothing was done,” he said. “An investigation would have helped.”
Crawford gave Channel 2 Action News cellphone video of an exchange in November, 2015, a month after the alleged praying confrontation.
In the video, the principal identified herself and told Crawford to leave the building after Crawford parked her bus.
The exchange provided by Crawford is as follows:
Principal: "I am the principal of the school, OK?"
Crawford: "I'm not blocking anybody."
Principal: "I am directing you."
Crawford: "I'm not blocking anybody."
Principal: "Before you go any further, I need you to stop. I need you to stop."
Principal: "I am asking you one more time, do not come in my building again."
Crawford: "Thank you, have a nice day."
Principal: "I'm asking you one more time, please do not come in my building."
In another portion of the video, each woman told the other not to put their hands on them.
A spokeswoman for Atlanta Public Schools told Carr they could not comment on the pending litigation but pointed out a separate suit filed by Crawford against the principal for the same issue had been dismissed in 2015.
The principal is also unable to speak on the allegations because of litigation.
Crawford said she’s been embarrassed in front of families she’s cared for over many years, and treated as an outcast.
“Now they see me as a joke,” said Crawford. “Now the parents, they try to protect their kids (and think) who is that or why is she not allowed in? She must have did something wrong.’ But I haven’t.”
“I wouldn’t do nothing to hurt those kids. I wouldn’t do nothing to hurt nobody. It’s just a fear that people have inside of them that make people get defensive.”
Cox Media Group
