The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a racist social media post targeting an Asian American Republican state lawmaker, saying such attacks normalize racism and embolden extremists.
The post, made by a leader affiliated with Turning Point USA, mocked an Arizona state representative with a racist reference to his Asian heritage, prompting widespread criticism from across the political spectrum.
Tyler Bowyer, the chief operating officer of Turning Point Action, wrote “Can you speak English?” to Republican state Rep. Quang Nguyen, who fled Vietnam when he was 12.
“Racist attacks targeting public officials because of their ethnicity or perceived background have no place in our society, regardless of the political party of the victim or the perpetrator,” said CAIR-AZ Executive Director Azza Abuseif. “Every elected official and public figure deserves to be judged by their ideas and actions and not subjected to dehumanizing racial stereotypes. We urge leaders across the political spectrum to unequivocally reject rhetoric that fuels hatred and division.”
She said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif, 602-349-1573, [email protected]