The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned reportedly “hostile and racist” gestures and comments made toward Cherokee High girls’ basketball players as they celebrated their championship win in Hayesville, North Carolina, on Saturday.
SEE: ‘Hostile, racist’ adults targeted Cherokee girls’ high school basketball team, chief says
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Michell Hicks responded to the incident, stating in part: “We have heard hateful slurs, degrading chants, and outright threats directed at our young athletes, words that are rooted in the same racism that once justified violence against our people. Schools, administrators, and the North Carolina High School Athletic Association must take responsibility and ensure that this behavior is no longer tolerated.”
“We condemn this allegedly racist behavior targeting the student athletes and urge that relevant officials take appropriate actions against those involved,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “Unfortunately, this disturbing incident is part of the overall rise in bigotry targeting minority communities nationwide.”
He said 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