Comments were taken out of context, school board member says
ELMWOOD PARK -- The borough Board of Education member who faced criticism and calls to step down over anti-Muslim posts she made on Facebook resigned Friday, the school district said.
Gladys Gryskiewicz cited unspecified safety concerns for her family in resigning, The Record reported.
Gryskiewicz wrote a post on her Facebook account that told Muslims to "(s)tay in your desserts [sic] and follow your religion in your own countries," the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement.
No disrespect for Muslims' BOE member says
In another post, Gryskiewicz reportedly wrote "we cannot allow Islam to take over."
The school board member first said she would not step down. Gryskiewicz told PIX11 her comments were taken out of context and not directed at the entire Muslim community.
Instead, Gryskiewicz said she made the posts in response to an online article about a Muslim woman who "disrespected" the national anthem, according to the television station's report. She said the comments were taken out of context.
At least three state legislators issued statements calling for Gryskiewicz to resign.
Should BOE member resign over anti-Muslim post?
Elmwood Park school officials and students have also asked Gryskiewicz to leave her position on the board. She has not responded to a request for comment.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a statement Friday that it welcomed her resignation.
"Ms. Gryskiewicz's resignation is really the best outcome in terms of the quality of the educational experience of the minority students of the Elmwood Park School District," the group's New Jersey executive director, James Sues, said.
Gryskiewicz was sworn in as a board member in January. The school board was set to officially accept Gryskiewicz's resignation at its next meeting.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.