(HARTFORD, CT, NOV. 8, 2023) – On Thursday, Nov. 9, the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT), the Muslim Students Association (MSA) chapter at the University of Connecticut’s Stamford campus and the UConn Storrs campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) plan to hold a press conference to address a series of racist, threatening, anti-Muslim emails received by these student organizations in recent weeks.
WHEN: Thursday, November 9, at 11 AM
WHERE: Islamic Center at UConn (ICUC) 28 N Eagleville Rd, Storrs, CT 06269
CONTACT: CAIR-Connecticut Chair Farhan Memon, 203-517-6526 or fmemon@cair.com; Hassan Awwad, Operations Director CAIR-CT, 202-213-6844
“The racist, threatening emails received by Muslim student groups at UConn Stamford and elsewhere are unacceptable and antithetical to the values we hold dear,” said Farhan Memon, Chairman of CAIR Connecticut. “We cannot become numb to this kind of hate. These messages indicate an alarming climate of intolerance and ignorance that breeds more violence if left unaddressed. University administrations must strongly and proactively denounce any forms of discrimination against minority communities on campus. And we must have open, campus-wide discussions about combating bigotry through education and building connections across differences.”
Washington, D.C., based CAIR has documented a spike in reported bias incidents since the escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine on Oct. 7.
Video: CAIR Reports Sharp Spike in Harassment, Bias and Violence Targeting American Muslims
BACKGROUNDER:
The email and voicemail messages contain violent, dehumanizing language and express celebration of the potential deaths of Muslims, including women and children. The senders also threaten further acts of hate and harassment.
The email received by the Stamford MSA says in part, “If any of your students have family members who were killed in Gaza, I will volunteer to fly over their (sic) to sh*t on their loved ones corpse before burial. Let me know.”
The voicemail received by the former president of the Storrs SJP says in part: “you’re just another sand n*gger terrorist that’s all you are…so you guys get together so that the Mossad can get pictures of you because I can’t wait to see you dead.”
CAIR-CT and the student groups condemn these messages in the strongest possible terms. Both organizations have reported the threatening messages to UConn police and to the FBI.
Last week Gov. Ned Lamont announced he is organizing a meeting of security officials representing public and private higher education institutions from across the state to discuss and evaluate methods to prevent incidents of hate on campuses in Connecticut. CAIR-CT wants to ensure that Islamophobia on college campuses is acknowledged and considered as part of the state’s strategy to combat hate.
At the press conference, the Muslim student leaders will speak about the impact such hateful rhetoric has on their community. They hope to promote values of diversity, inclusion, and religious tolerance on campus and in society at large.
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-Connecticut Chair Farhan Memon, 203-517-6526 or fmemon@cair.com; Hassan Awwad, Operations Director CAIR-CT, 202-213-6844