(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/31/17) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Mississippi Regional Counterdrug Training Center (RCTA) to cancel training next week to be offered by notorious Islamophobe and anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist John Guandolo, who claimed the Obama administration’s CIA director was a “secret Muslim.”
[NOTE: The Regional Counterdrug Training Academy, located at Naval Air Station (NAS) IN Meridian, Miss., is a congressionally-funded facility operated by the Mississippi National Guard Counterdrug Program.]
SEE: Disgraced Ex-FBI Agent John Guandolo Holding Law Enforcement Training in Mississippi Next Week
CAIR Islamophobia Monitor: John Guandolo
Video: Islamophobe John Guandolo Claims CIA Director John Brennan is a Secret Muslim
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization that tracks hate groups in America, describes Guandolo as “a disreputable character, who regularly attacks the U.S. government, claims that the director of the Central Intelligence Agency is a secret Muslim agent for the Saudi government and says that American Muslims ‘do not have a First Amendment right to do anything.'”
According to the SPLC, “Guandolo works closely with ACT! for America, the largest grassroots anti-Muslim group in the country.” ACT for America’s anti-Muslim bigotry was highlighted recently in a Washington Post exposé.
SEE: This group believes Islam threatens America: ”˜It’s a spiritual battle of good and evil.’
Last year, a Texas college canceled a similar event. The college’s decision came following a request by CAIR’s Dallas-Fort Worth chapter.
Ex-FBI Agent John Guandolo to Host Anti-Muslim Training at Texas College
CAIR-Dallas Asks College to Cancel Law Enforcement ”˜Training’ by Islamophobe John Guandolo
Backgrounder on Islamophobe John Guandolo:
In 2015, CAIR welcomed the withdrawal of an FBI representative from an event in Texas that was initially sponsored by the anti-Muslim hate group ACT! for America and featured Guandolo.
Virginia’s Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy rescinded its approval of in-service training credits for state law enforcement scheduled to attend a training Guandolo was conducting in Culpeper, Va., after being made aware of his anti-Islam rhetoric.
SEE: Virginia Agency Pulls Accreditation for Anti-Muslim Training
A sheriff in Kansas decided not to partner with a citizens group sponsoring a Guandolo training after being informed of his conspiracy theories. When a journalist at Kansas’ Wichita Eagle covered the controversy, Guandolo accused the reporter of material support of terrorism.
SEE: Kansas Sheriff Won’t Partner on Training by John Guandolo
A number of Arizona police departments decided not to send officers to one of Guandolo’s trainings.
CAIR: Arizona Police Departments Drop Out of Islamophobic Training
Guandolo left the FBI shortly after reports surfaced that he had allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with a key witness in a corruption trial targeting a member of Congress. In addition he is documented as having falsified his credentials and work experience.
Major General Tony Cucolo, Commandant of the US Army War College, informed CAIR in an email: “Mr. Guandolo’s claim (in print) that he teaches at the Army War College and any other references (e.g., online) identifying him as an adjunct instructor here are simply untrue.”
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is asking Muslim community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR’s Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/civil-rights/report-an-incident/view/form.html
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com
