The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned vandalism targeting Hispanic businesses in Muscatine, Iowa.
Police are investigating nine reports of derogatory vandalism at various Muscatine businesses, including hateful graffiti, a broken window and racist emails. Swastikas and hateful messages were reportedly written on several buildings. Police have charged a woman with one count each of felony ongoing criminal conduct, felony threat of terrorism, and second-degree criminal mischief in connection with the vandalism. She also faces multiple misdemeanor charges of the following: criminal mischief, criminal mischief as a hate crime, and harassment.
SEE: Latin businesses in Muscatine vandalized with swastikas, hate symbols | wqad.com
Woman faces hate crime charges after businesses defaced with swastikas
“We condemn these hateful acts of vandalism and welcome the charging of a suspect in connection with these crimes,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “Acts of bigotry will not succeed in intimidating diverse communities or dividing Americans.”
Hooper said Washington, D.C., based CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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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