The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today raised concerns about the motive the “unusual hostility” behind the New York Jets’ decision to fire Coach Robert Saleh after reports that security physically escorted him out of the building without giving him an opportunity to speak with players.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR is calling on the Jets to address the allegation and explain its treatment of Saleh.
CAIR also noted that Saleh wore a Lebanese flag pin to an NFL game last weekend and that Jets owner Woody Johnson was once accused of making racially-charged remarks.
In a statement, CAIR said:
“We commend Coach Robert Saleh for making history as the first American Muslim head coach in NFL history. Although no one should jump to conclusions about why the Jets fired Coach Saleh, the report that Jets security physically escorted Saleh out of the building does raise concerns about the possible motive for such unusual hostility—especially given that Saleh wore a Lebanese flag pin at a game just days ago and that owner Woody Johnson is a former Trump administration official who has been accused of making racially charged remarks. We encourage the Jets to thoroughly explain its unusually hostile reported treatment of Coach Saleh.”
SEE: Jets Coach Robert Saleh Sparks Controversy with Gameday Apparel
SEE: Report: Woody Johnson made “sexist, racist” comments as ambassador to Britain
From January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming bias complaints nationwide, a 69 percent increase over the same period in 2023.
SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remain Elevated in First Half of 2024
Earlier this year, CAIR released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of civil rights complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints. Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.
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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