The importance of Keith Ellison, a patriotic American who’s also a Muslim
By Joan Walsh, MinnPost, 4/30/13 Progressives loved seeing Rep. Keith Ellison smack down his GOP congressional colleague Peter King on “Meet the Press” Sunday, insisting that profiling Muslims in the wake of the Boston bombing is not only wrong but “ineffective law enforcement.” As Ellison warned: “Once you start saying, we’re going to dragnet or […]
Video: CAIR Rep on CNN with Va. Muslim Army Reservist Assaulted in Bias Attack
Muslim cabdriver alleges assault by passenger who cited Boston Marathon bombing
By Joe Stephens and Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 4/30/2013 An Army reservist and Iraq veteran who works as a cabdriver says a passenger he picked up early Friday at a Northern Virginia country club accused him of being a terrorist because he is Muslim, then fractured his jaw in an attack being described by Islamic […]
CAIR Seeks Hate Crime Charges for Attack on Va. Muslim Taxi Driver
When victim asked 'why are you punching me?' alleged attacker replied, 'You're a [expletive] Muslim.' (WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/1/13) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said it is seeking hate crime charges for an alleged assault on a Muslim U.S. Army reservist and Iraq veteran […]
CAIR-MD Launches ‘Equality for Eid’ Campaign for Muslim School Holidays
(GAITHERSBURG, MD, May 1, 2013) – The Maryland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MD) today announced the official launch of its “Equality for Eid” (E4E) campaign, a grassroots community-based initiative led by CAIR-MD seeking Montgomery County Public School closing for “Eid” holidays. The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (EED-al-FITTER), or “feast of fast […]
NY Muslims Hold First Annual ‘Day at the Capitol’
(ALBANY, NY, May 1, 2013) — Members of the New York Muslim community participated yesterday in the first annual “Muslim Day at the Capitol.” During meetings with more than 60 elected officials of the New York State Assembly and Senate, American Muslims addressed upcoming bills that directly impact the New York Muslim community, including a […]
Travelling Beyond Law Enforcement Roadblocks
As Americans, we have a lot to be thankful for. In the hustle of everyday life, we might take for granted the little things that we have grown accustomed to, such as the ability to speak freely and defend our own rights, or the ability to travel freely whether on business, for leisure, or visiting loved […]
CAIR staff give workshops on civil rights, civic engagement
This weekend was a busy one for the staff at CAIR’s national office. On Saturday, 4/27, two of our civil rights attorneys led a “Know Your Rights” workshop with the Peace Islamic Center in Burke, Va. That event was followed by a civic engagement workshop on Sunday, 4/28, at Masjid Muhammad in Washington, DC, encouraging […]
500 Turn Out for CAIR-MD Banquet
(GAITHERSBURG, MD, 4/30/13) – Some 500 guests turned out on Sunday for the inaugural banquet of the Maryland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MD) at Martin's Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Md. The banquet theme was “Upholding Our Constitution, Defending Our Faith.” The sold-out event’s program began with a moment of silence to honor the […]
American women who converted to Islam speak out
By JoNel Aleccia, NBC News When an American convert to Islam was revealed as the wife of the dead Boston bombing suspect, Lauren Schreiber wasn’t surprised at what came next. Comments from former acquaintances and complete strangers immediately suggested that 24-year-old Katherine Russell, a New England doctor’s daughter, must have been coerced and controlled by […]