(WASHINGTON D.C., 3/1/22) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the racist, anti-Asian harassment of Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and the state’s Asian-American First Lady.
A video on social media shows Governor Sisolak and First Lady Kathy Sisolak being harassed by at least two men at a Las Vegas restaurant. In a statement Sisolak characterized the incident as “racist threats.”
In the video, a man goes on a profanity-laced rant, verbally attacking the governor. Another man joins in as they follow the governor, his wife and his daughter. Sisolak’s press aide said the governor was “deeply disappointed in how this incident unfolded, particularly with the language used to talk about First Lady Kathy Sisolak’s heritage.” His wife is of Chinese heritage.
“Americans of all backgrounds and political persuasions must speak out against the disturbing rise in anti-Asian hate and against the growing bigotry we see targeting all minority communities nationwide,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.
He noted that data, published by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, indicated that anti-Asian hate crimes increased by 339 percent last year compared to the year before.
Hooper said the American Muslim community and CAIR are standing in solidarity with all those challenging systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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]