(WASHINGTON D.C., 10/5/2021) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned “symbols of treason (Confederate flags) flown at the Cruisin’ the Coast car rally in Mississippi. CAIR also urged a more rigorous investigation into the racist harassment of a Vermont high school student.
Mississippi’s annual Cruisin’ the Coast car rally began on Sunday. Some attendees of the event flew Confederate flags, in addition to Trump 2024 and Gadsden flags. Confederate flags have been flown at the car rally for years.
SEE: Will Trump, Confederate flags return to Cruisin’ The Coast?
https://www.sunherald.com/news/local/cruisin-coast/article254745187.html
CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said: “Systemic racism and white supremacy remain present in our society and continue to threaten members of minority communities. We condemn the flying of symbols of treason in Mississippi, just as we condemn all public displays of hate and bigotry.“
On September 17th, a student at Vermont’s Bellow Free Academy St. Albans received an image depicting three Ku Klux Klan members with the words “3 K’s a day keeps the n*****s away.” The student, whose mother is white and father is Black, reported the incident.
The school investigated but failed to find the perpetrator. The school resource officer was involved in the investigation as well but did not speak to the victim. The victim said administrators should have better communicated with other students about the seriousness of the incident. The victim’s parents said school officials told them there was nothing else they could do about the incident.
SEE: St. Albans Family Frustrated After School Investigation Into Racist Meme Sputters | Off Message
“We urge Bellow Free Academy to conduct a more rigorous investigation into the disturbing racist harassment of a student of color and urge schools nationwide to step up efforts to combat racism and white supremacy,” said CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison.
Hooper and Allison both said the American Muslim community and CAIR are standing in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Maine School’s Reversal of Ban on Student Artwork Inspired by Book on Muslim Girl Who Fought Racism
CAIR Condemns Theft of American Flag, Raising of ‘Traitorous’ Confederate Flag at U.S. Military Base in Germany
CAIR Condemns Anti-Asian Attack in Wisconsin, Welcomes Dropping of N.C. Institutional Names Associated with Racism
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com