The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for a hate crime enhancement to be considered following an alleged racist attack on a Black man in Hazelwood, Missouri.
The suspect allegedly shouted racial slurs before physically attacking the victim in what prosecutors have charged as a hate crime. The incident reportedly occurred Friday in Hazelwood, a suburb of St. Louis, and the suspect was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.
Missouri law allows enhanced penalties for crimes “motivated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or disability of the victim or victims.”
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“Every alleged act of racist violence is an attack not only on the individual victim but on the fundamental principle that every person deserves to live free from hatred and intimidation. At a time when bias-motivated incidents continue to threaten communities across our nation, public officials must send the unmistakable message that racist violence will not be tolerated.”
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.
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; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com