(BALTIMORE, MD, 11/10/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned an anti-Palestinian counter-demonstration in Montgomery County, Maryland, at which demonstrators made violent and racist statements about killing Palestinians.
After a group of protesters gathered in Montgomery County to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, a group of anti-Palestinian protesters gathered to oppose them. One demonstrator using a megaphone said, “We will secure America against you animals […] we’ll take your heads, we’ll take your lives […] because we are white, and you are murderers.” Shouting at a pro-Palestine protester, one counter-protester said, “You Muslim, we kill your brothers.”
In a statement, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“This incident is a perfect illustration of the difference between the two sides. While one calls for a ceasefire and an end to the slaughter of innocents, the other celebrates and threatens to murder them. This incident also exemplifies the dangerous levels to which anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim bigotry has risen in recent weeks, with the enabling of major voices in politics and the media. Lawmakers must take action to address the rising tide of anti-Muslim bigotry before more people like those we see in this video decide to take their threats to the level of action.”
She noted that CAIR’s Maryland office recorded an unprecedented 108 hate and bias incidents, complaints, and requests for assistance between Oct. 9 and Nov. 4. Yesterday, CAIR announced that its national headquarters and chapters received a total of 1,283 requests for help and reports of bias, which is a 216 percent increase over the previous year.
CAIR denounced the Montgomery County senate delegation’s letter threatening to defund immigrant communities over CASA de Maryland’s since-deleted posts supporting basic Palestinian human rights and is calling on the state’s Ethics Commission to investigate possible violations and take appropriate action.
(NEW YORK, NY, 10/12/2023) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), which is the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the nation, has condemned the reported anti-Palestinian attacks in Brooklyn. The NYPD’s hate crimes unit is currently investigating two such incidents. In light of this, CAIR-NY has called on public officials and the media to stop inciting anti-Palestinian sentiments.
The first alleged incident occurred in Bay Ridge this past Wednesday. According to the police, three alleged assailants in three cars were waving Israeli flags and allegedly started yelling anti-Palestinian remarks at three men walking on 86th Street near 4th Avenue around 11:30 p.m. The group got out of their car and assaulted the three men.
The second incident took place earlier that evening in Williamsburg where a man holding a Palestinian flag was allegedly assaulted. The assailant allegedly snatched the flag from him, tore it up, and hit him with the pole that was attached to the flag.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
“We condemn these bias-motivated assaults and urge public officials and media professionals to end the anti-Palestinian incitement and the spreading of misinformation that is putting a target on Palestinian-American, Arab-Americans, and American Muslims.”
Earlier this week, CAIR-NY denounced the blanket condemnation made by New York City Mayor Eric Adams against a pro-Palestinian rally that took place in Times Square yesterday.
Yesterday, CAIR issued guidance to students being targeted for advocating on behalf of Palestinian rights or because of their Muslim faith.
(COLUMBUS, OH – 10/13/23) — The Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned an alleged anti-Palestinian attack during a rally for Palestine in Columbus and called on public officials and the media to end anti-Palestinian incitement.
Members of the Students for Justice in Palestine at The Ohio State University along with other student organizations, and other community supporters were involved in the peaceful demonstration and march Downtown. While protesters were marching in the street near Broad and High streets around 7:20 p.m., an older man driving a truck began to shout obscenities about Palestinians and then swerve out of his lane and hit a demonstrator on a bicycle.
The truck fled the scene, but Columbus police reported that the vehicle was stopped at North 3rd and East Lynn streets, and a suspect in the incident had been taken into custody.
In a statement, CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi said:
“We condemn the apparently bias-motivated assault and urge public officials and media professionals to end the anti-Palestinian incitement and the spreading of misinformation placing a target on Palestinian-American, Arab-Americans, and American Muslims.”
Yesterday, CAIR-Ohio shared resources for employees and students being targeted for advocating on behalf of Palestinian rights or because of their Muslim faith.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR-Ohio has three offices in Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Written by Paula Onuoha
