The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today strongly condemned Sen. Ted Cruz’s failure to reject a call by an audience member attending his speech at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas who called for the assassination of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as well as Abdul El-Sayed and James Talarico.
According to reports, an attendee at the event repeatedly shouted three times, “He should be shot!” while Sen. Cruz addressed the audience. The violent calls were directed at Sen. Cruz did not address or object to the outburst from the stage during his speech.
In a statement, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR said:
“Calls for political violence and assassinations have absolutely no place in our democracy. It is deeply alarming and unacceptable that Senator Ted Cruz carried on with his speech amid loud, explicit calls to assassinate prominent politicians, including two American Muslims. These calls to violence were met with silence rather than immediate condemnation from the stage during the event and Senator Cruz still has not renounced them. Neither have the organizers of the event.
“Leaders have a responsibility to forcefully reject incitement to violence, racism, and bigotry whenever and wherever it occurs. Failing to denounce such dangerous rhetoric normalizes political violence and endangers public servants and community members alike.”
CAIR urged elected officials and party leadership from across the political spectrum to explicitly reject political violence, hold individuals inciting harm accountable, and uphold the principles of civil debate and safety for all elected leaders and public servants.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]