(WASHINGTON D.C., 10/14/2021) – The national office and Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of a federal law clerk who reportedly made racist comments about African-Americans while she worked for Turning Point USA, a far-right student group.
Crystal Clanton was recently hired to serve as a law clerk for a judge on the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals based in Atlanta, Ga. Clanton is a former member of Turning Point USA, a far-right campus organization. In 2017, Clanton reportedly sent a text to others in Turning Point USA saying, “I hate Black people. Like f*** them all.… I hate blacks. End of story.”
SEE: ‘I hate blacks’: Federal judge silent about racist message from clerk who worked at right-wing group
In a statement, CAIR-Georgia Legal and Policy Director Javeria Jamil said:
“We are dismayed by Ms. Clanton’s reported statements. This racist and incendiary rhetoric has no place in our halls of justice or in the counsel given to our federal judges. These allegations must be investigated and addressed to avoid defacing the integrity of our judiciary.”
CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“If Ms. Clanton did indeed express these racist views about the Black community, she should not serve as a law clerk for the federal judiciary. No one who embraces such blatant racism can be trusted to act fairly and impartially. We urge Ms. Clanton to resign and undergo a genuine process of learning so that she can free herself from the burden of racism and dedicate her career to pursuing justice for all.”
Mitchell said the American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Investigation into Racist Incidents at Maryland Schools
CAIR-Washington Stands with Tacoma Muslim Community After Mosque Burned, Asks Authorities to Probe Possible Bias Motive
CAIR Welcomes Probe of Montana Professor’s Islamophobic Blog Posts
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