Muslim civil rights group also condemns ‘unauthorized, unrepresentative’ vandalism at Union Station after main protested ended
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned lawmakers who applauded Benjamin Netanyahu’s “racist, delusional, genocidal” address to Congress yesterday.
SEE: Fact-checking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress – CNN
CAIR also thanked the tens of thousands of Americans who peacefully protested his speech and condemned “unauthorized, unrepresentative” acts of vandalism that occurred at Union Station hours after the organized protest ended.
In a statement, CAIR said:
“We strongly condemn war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu and his racist, delusional, genocidal speech to some members of Congress. We applaud those members of Congress who boycotted his speech, and we call on those lawmakers who attended to apologize and renounce Netanyahu’s dishonest and dangerous remarks.
“We thank the tens of thousands of Americans of various faiths and backgrounds who gathered peacefully and respectfully on Capitol Hill yesterday to protest Netanyahu and the hateful, racist, dishonest propaganda he spewed. We applaud those Americans, who rightfully pointed out that the only speech Netanyahu should have given is testimony at The Hague.
“Hours after the large and peaceful anti-genocide protest on Capitol Hill ended, a much smaller group of unidentified protesters committed acts of vandalism at Union Station and burned an American flag. We reject this unauthorized and unrepresentative behavior, which does not reflect or represent the movement to end the Gaza genocide.
“We also reject those politicians and media personalities who have cynically attempted to conflate rogue criminal behavior by a small number of individuals with the actions of the peaceful protesters who gathered on Capitol Hill to oppose Netanyahu, his government’s genocide and U.S. support for it.
“Selective condemnations must end. If vandalism and offensive rhetoric is offensive, then so is committing, funding, lying about, and applauding the genocide of 40,000 human beings. Yet far too many politicians remain silent about the war crimes being committed with American taxpayer dollars. This hypocrisy must end. So must the genocide.”
Earlier today, CAIR welcomed reports that Britain’s new government will withdraw objections to a possible International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged the Biden administration to follow suit.
Yesterday, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad spoke at the Washington, D.C., protest against Netanyahu’s address to Congress. In his address, Awad said “there is a war criminal in town.” “This war criminal Netanyahu has a long history of crimes against humanity,” said Awad.
WATCH: CAIR Director Nihad Awad Tells DC Capitol Hill Rally that Netanyahu is a War Criminal
CAIR recently welcomed a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), or World Court, that Israel’s settlement policies and exploitation of natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and must end.
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 National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com