(WASHINGTON D.C., 1/11/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a bomb threat targeting a Black cultural center on the University of Utah campus. CAIR also condemned a racist poster at a high school in Idaho.
Early Tuesday morning, a crisis center call line received a call alleging that a bomb had been placed at the University of Utah’s Black Cultural Center. Police and bomb-sniffing dogs responded to the threat and found no bomb at the scene. The university is investigating the threat with assistance from the FBI.
SEE: U of U police investigate bomb threat against Black Cultural Center
University of Utah police investigate bomb threat against Black Cultural Center
At Idaho’s Thunder Ridge High School, a student reportedly used a poster with racist language to ask another student to a school dance. The poster read “If I was Black I’d be picking cotton…but I’m white so I’m picking you.” On Tuesday, the superintendent of Bonneville Joint School District 93 issued a community letter condemning the incident.
SEE: Superintendent, students condemn racist poster used to ask boy to dance
In a statement, CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison said:
“It is imperative that threats targeting minority communities and incidents of racial bias are taken seriously by authorities and condemned by religious and political leaders in Utah, Idaho and nationwide. We urge educational institutions to offer an anti-racist curriculum to students and make clear that they will not tolerate hate and bigotry on their campuses.”
Allison noted that last month, CAIR called on the University of Utah to offer an anti-racist curriculum after several reported racist incidents.
SEE: CAIR Calls on University of Utah to Offer Anti-Racism Curriculum After Reported Racist Incidents
Last week, CAIR condemned similar bomb threats targeting 9 historically Black colleges and universities nationwide.
SEE: CAIR Condemns Bomb Threats Targeting 9 Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Allison also noted that in September 2021, CAIR-Kansas condemned a racist poster using the same language as the one used in Idaho.
SEE: CAIR-Kansas Condemns Racist Poster at Kansas City Area School, Urges Full Review of School District Environment, Policies and Staff Training
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