CAIR Press Releases

CAIR Seeks Federal Hate Crime Charges for Mississippi Man Who Allegedly Attempted to Hit Black Teens with Car While Using Racist Slur

(WASHINGTON D.C., 7/28/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest of a Mississippi man who allegedly attempted to run down nine Black teens and then reportedly posted video of the alleged attack online.

CAIR is also calling for federal hate crime charges and hate crime enhancements to the state charges in the case. Mississippi law (Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-301 through 99-19-307) allows for a hate crime enhancement “if the felony or misdemeanor was committed because of the actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, national origin or gender of the victim.”

The video reportedly showed the suspect using a racial slur while attempting to run over the teens who were riding bikes.

SEE: Mark Hall officially charged, jailed for attempting to run over black teens

Shocking Video Shows White Driver Laugh After Nearly Running Over Black Kids

https://www.thedailybeast.com/shocking-facebook-video-shows-white-driver-nearly-run-over-black-teens-on-bikes-in-mississippi

White driver in Mississippi charged after allegedly recording attempt to run over Black children

https://news.yahoo.com/white-driver-mississippi-charged-allegedly-152500701.html

“We welcome the arrest in this disturbing case and urge federal law enforcement authorities to consider hate crime charges and call on state authorities to add hate crime enhancements to the charges in order to send the message that such alleged racist conduct will not be tolerated,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

He noted that earlier this month, CAIR welcomed the firing of a Lexington, Miss., police chief after a racist, expletive-laced recording said to be by him was made public. 

Hooper said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and white supremacy. 

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.           

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook        

http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational          

Subscribe to CAIR’s Email List        

https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters

Subscribe to CAIR’s Twitter Feed        

http://twitter.com/cairnational         

Subscribe to CAIR’s YouTube Channel        

http://www.youtube.com/cairtv         

Follow CAIR on Instagram        

https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/

Donate to CAIR        

https://action.cair.com/a/donate

Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.                  

You are receiving this email due to your interest selection from commercial media databases. If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com    

END 

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; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com  

Latest Press Releases