(WASHINGTON D.C., 7/16/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to rescind his recent appointment to the state Board of Historic Resources of an individual who has defended Confederate monuments and condemned their destruction.
That appointee, Ann Hunter McLean, once said she believes Virginia’s heritage is “under attack,” falsely claimed the Civil War was fought for the “sovereignty of each state and constitutional law” and that people “want to destroy the evidence of that story.” In an interview, she excused Thomas Jefferson for not freeing his slaves, who she referred to as “his laborers.”
SEE: Youngkin appoints Confederate statue defender to historic resources board
“An individual who supports honoring the traitors of the Confederacy and who has such a twisted vision of our nation’s history should not serve on a public body that oversees state historic site designations,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “We urge Governor Youngkin to rescind his appointment of Ann Hunter McLean to the Board of Historic Resources.”
Hooper noted that CAIR recently welcomed both the dropping of 14 Confederate street names in Fairfax City, Va., and a newly-revealed ban on the flying of Confederate flags at the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va.
Last month, CAIR welcomed the removal of an image depicting a Confederate soldier from the city of Fairfax’s seal. Also last month, CAIR expressed its support for the renaming of a district in Fairfax County currently named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR has repeatedly called for the removal of Confederate holidays, flags, statues, and symbols nationwide.
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, 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 Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com