In a statement, a coalition of Jewish, Muslim and Arab-American groups call for insurance company to withdraw offensive and defamatory statement
(WASHINGTON, DC, 4/8/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today joined an interfaith coalition of more than 60 civil and human rights organizations to release a statement condemning the insurance company GEICO for canceling its plans to host an event celebrating Arab-American Heritage Month and for publicly attacking its invited speaker, American Muslim community activist Linda Sarsour.
CAIR also today sent a separate letter on behalf of Ms. Sarsour to GEICO CEO Todd Combs calling on the corporation to reverse course.
SEE: CAIR Letter to GEICO CEO Todd Combs
After GEICO announced that Sarsour was scheduled to speak at an event celebrating Middle Eastern and North African history, anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim organizations attacked both Sarsour and the company, which then cancelled the entire event and accused Sarsour of practicing “hate” and “exclusion.”
In a joint statement, over 60 civil and human rights organizations said:
“We strongly condemn GEICO for bowing down to anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate groups, canceling an event meant to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month and smearing one of our nation’s most prominent and impactful activists.
“GEICO must immediately delete its false, defamatory and unacceptable attack on Linda Sarsour, who has vocally advocated for justice for all people and repeatedly fought against Islamophobia, antisemitism, xenophobia, and all other forms of hatred.
“GEICO’s defamatory attack on Linda Sarsour is an attack on all Americans who dare to criticize the Israeli government and other human rights violators. If GEICO refuses to delete its hateful post and apologize for canceling its Arab American Heritage Month event, everyone who supports human rights for all people should avoid collaborating with this company or insuring with this company.”
Co-Signing Organizations
Al-Ansar Center
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
American Muslim Bar Association
American Muslim Empowerment Network (AMEN)
Arab American Association of New York
Arab American Civic Council
Armenian-American Action Network
Central Valley Islamic Council
Coalition for Civil Freedoms
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Free Uyghur Now
ICNA Council for Social Justice (ICNA CSJ)
Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno
Islamophobia Studies Center
Jahajee Sisters
Jetpac Resource Center
Jewish Voice for Peace
Jews Against Anti-Muslim Racism
Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)
Jews Say No!
Mogahed Consulting, LLC
MPower Change
Muslim Caucus Education Initiative
Muslim Democratic Club of NY
National Iranian American Council
Nordix Computer Corp
Pillars of the Community
Poligon Education Fund
Project South
Revolutionary Love Project
South Bay Islamic Association
South Florida Muslim Federation
The Gathering for Justice
Until Freedom
US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO)
• American Muslim Alliance (AMA)
• American Muslim for Palestine (AMP)
• Baitulmaal for Relief and Development
• Burmese Rohingya Association of North America (BRANA)
• Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC)
• Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
• Dar Alhijrah Islamic Center
• Downtown Islamic Center – Chicago (DIC)
• Helping Hand for Relief and Development (HHRD)
• International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT)
• Islamic Association of North America (IANA)
• Islamic Center of Chicago Western Suburbs (ICW)
• Islamic Center of Detroit (ICD)
• Islamic Community Center of Illinois (ICCI)
• Islamic Center of Naperville (ICN)
• Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
• Islamic Leadership Council of New York
• Islamic Shura Council of Southern California (ISCSC)
• Mercy Without Limits (MWL)
• Mosque Foundation (MF)
• The Mosque Cares (Ministry of Imam W. D. Mohammed)
• Muslim American Society (MAS)
• Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA)
• Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA)
• Muslim Forum of the Pacific Northwest (MFPNW)
• New York Majlis Ashura
• North America Imams Federation (NAIF)
• Together We Serve (TWS)
• United Muslim Relief (UMR)
• United Hands Relief (UHR)
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 Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com