The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned neo-Nazi vandalism found on a walking path in Bangor, Maine, on Monday.
The graffiti depicted a swastika and the number “1488.” The “14” apparently refers to a white supremacist slogan, and the “88” stands for “Heil Hitler.” Washington, D.C., based CAIR said the incident marks a troubling sign of the continued rise of white supremacy in the region.
“We condemn this hateful neo-Nazi vandalism and the disturbing rise of white supremacy and other forms of bigotry nationwide,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “These symbols of hate will not succeed in dividing our communities.”
He said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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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; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com