Amsterdam & Partners LLP Supports NAACP Resolution on Gülen Charter Schools

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The California chapter of the the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has passed a new resolution urging federal, state and local authorities to conduct forensic audits of charter schools linked to the Fethullah Gülen organization and the management companies operating them, according to an announcement from the organization's Education Chair.

According to Resolution #16, the California NAACP is urging action by state and federal auditors – not just state school boards – to investigate allegations of misconduct by the Gülen organization schools including the Magnolia Science Academy (CA), Horizon Science Academy (OH , IL), Harmony Science Academy (TX), Sonoran Science Academy (AR), Coral Academy of Science (NV), Dove Science Academy (OK), as well as others.

"We are very glad to see the NAACP take action on this important issue, as many of the Gülen schools appear to specifically target African American and other minority communities, in some cases involving discriminatory practices and substandard quality of education," said lawyer Robert Amsterdam, author of a +600 page book about the Gülen schools titled Empire of Deceit. "The organizations running these schools have not only been found to be pillaging taxpayers through real estate schemes and self-dealing to their own contractors, but they are also abusing the H-1B visa program to bring over foreign teachers often lacking in basic English skills and training. This has a devastating impact on the communities in which they operate."

Amsterdam's book reveals surprising facts regarding the Gülen Organization's vast US network:

• Misuse of taxpayer funds totaling at least $243 million.
• More than 6,504 H-1B visas to import unqualified Turkish teachers at a public cost of as much as $26 million and lost jobs for American teachers.
• Nearly 81,000 students enrolled at Gülen schools across 27 states and District of Columbia.
• Widespread manipulation of state mandated testing, grades and attendance figures.
• Lobbying and publicly funded trips to Turkey to influence politicians and local officials.

Empire of Deceit includes evidence and whistleblower testimony pointing to widespread discriminatory practices by Gülen schools, both in the higher salaries paid to Turkish teachers, as well as the treatment and retention of students. One Gülen-linked school, the Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School in Somerset, New Jersey, was found to have a student population of 13% African-American students and 8% economically disadvantaged, compared to local township averages of 26.5% and 45%, respectively, among other examples.

Amsterdam & Partners LLP supports this resolution from the California NAACP and is asking federal, state and local authorities to critically analyze the findings of Empire of Deceit and to use the information to investigate the Gülen charter school network in order to protect the interests of American schoolchildren, parents, teachers and taxpayers.

Learn more at www.empireofdeceit.com.

This material is distributed by Amsterdam & Partners LLP / the Republic of Turkey. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

Contact: Sheri Kesser, [email protected], 202-999-0722

SOURCE Amsterdam & Partners LLP