Muslim civil rights and advocacy group calls on law enforcement to step up protection for protesters
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on law enforcement to consider hate crime charges against a local pro-Israel leader who was arrested after allegedly attacking anti-war protesters and destroyed their property outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. on April 16th. CAIR also called on law enforcement to prosecute the suspect to the full extent of the law.
Suspect Ezra Weinblatt, an alleged board member with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Washington, DC, allegedly climbed out of his vehicle, approached a group of Palestinian demonstrators, threw their audio equipment into the street, and struck a female demonstrator in the face. He has been charged with destruction of property and simple assault.
Video of the alleged assault and arrest of the suspect was posted online.
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“The level of vitriol and violence that some pro-Israel extremists have unleashed against advocates for Palestinian human rights is completely unacceptable. We welcome the arrest of Ezra Weinblatt and we call on law enforcement to consider hate crime charges against him. We also call on the JCRC of Greater Washington to renounce his alleged conduct if he is indeed a member of their board. The D.C. police must step up efforts to protect the free speech rights of demonstrators outside the Israeli embassy who have been repeatedly assaulted for speaking out against the Israeli government’s ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
Protests against the Israeli government’s war on Gaza have occurred nationwide over the past six months, including outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.
Democrats, Republicans and independents have all become less supportive of Israel’s operation in Gaza than they were in December. Then, a narrow majority approved of Israeli conduct. The latest figures show that a majority, 55%, disapprove of Israel’s actions, while 36% approve.
CBS News poll: Rising numbers of Americans say Biden should encourage Israel to stop Gaza actions
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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 Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com