The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today applauded Indian writer Jacinta Kerketta for turning down an award cosponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in solidarity with Palestinians.
Kerketta refused to accept an award jointly given by USAID and Room to Read India Trust, in solidarity with the victims of war Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. “I saw that Room to Read India Trust is also associated with [the company] Boeing for children’s education. How can the arms business and care for children continue simultaneously when the world of children is being destroyed by the same weapons,” she said.
SEE: ‘For Children of Palestine’: Writer Jacinta Kerketta Turns Down Award Co-Sponsored by USAID
“We applaud Ms. Kerketta for taking a principled stand against the Israeli government’s genocide of Palestinians and against those enabling that genocide,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “More artists and writers should embrace their role as the conscience of cultures and speak out against U.S. support for the Israeli government’s crimes against humanity.”
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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