(BALTIMORE, MD, 5/1/18) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned an apparent anti-Semitic attack on two Jewish students at Towson University in Baltimore County and expressed solidarity with that state’s Jewish community.
SEE: Towson University investigating possible hate crime against two Jewish students
According to reports, the two students were being followed by the other students on Sunday morning when they started yelling “F**k the Jews” and other racial and religious slurs.
Police say they were then followed to the front lawn of their home where one of the attackers allegedly physically assaulted them, striking one victim in the face. While the second victim dialed 911 for help, he was also allegedly struck in the face.
“Anti-Semitic attacks, like any other attacks motivated by hatred and bigotry, have no place in a civilized society,” said CAIR’s Outreach Director for Maryland Zainab Chaudry. “White supremacist ideology helps fuel anti-Semitism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, and other forms of intolerance. We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community and urge law enforcement officials to conduct a swift investigation to help deliver justice.”
She noted that CAIR and the American Muslim community have in the past expressed solidarity with Jewish, Christian, Native American, African-American, and Sikh communities in New Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Alabama, Massachusetts, Kansas, South Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and other states following acts of hate, threats, violence, vandalism, arson, or bombings.
Chaudry also noted that in CAIR’s 2018 Civil Rights Report, ”˜Targeted’, the organization recorded a 17 percent increase in bias-motivated incidents against Muslim Americans from 2016-17, and a 15 percent increase in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes in the same time period.
SEE: Hate crimes against American Muslims up 15%, says CAIR
CAIR recently condemned a disturbing pattern of racist, anti-Black incidents at public schools in Anne Arundel County, including:
Ӣ an AP class essay written by a student suggesting extermination of the Black race
”¢ a racist petition circulated by “Kool Kids Klan” – a thinly veiled reference to the KKK
Ӣ swastikas and racial slurs discovered on school property
Ӣ nooses hung on school property
SEE: Racial slurs found at Chesapeake High School
http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/schools/ac-cn-chesapeake-incidents-20180320-story.html
She noted that these incidents are only the most recent examples of intolerant attitudes observed in Maryland public schools.
SEE: CAIR Condemns Racist Incident at Md. High School, Calls for ‘Zero-Tolerance’ Policy on Racism
Photo spelling out racial slur spurs calls for expulsion at Bel Air High School
CAIR Condemns Fliers Promoting White Supremacy, Anti-Semitism Distributed in Maryland
Fliers Promoting White Supremacy, Anti-Semitism Appear in Montgomery County
The organization recently welcomed Maryland lawmakers’ efforts to strengthen hate crime laws in the state.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Maryland Lawmakers’ Move to Strengthen State’s Hate Crime Laws
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Rep. Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com