(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/20/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today condemned a series of racist and anti-Muslim videos created by an Aurora, Colo., city council member and urged that official to meet with leaders from the impacted communities.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR offered to coordinate that meeting.
Councilmember Steve Sundberg, who was elected last year, reportedly filmed himself imitating Mexicans, Arab Muslims, South Asians and other minority groups as advertisements for his sports bar in 2020. In the videos, Sundberg reportedly imitates a variety of accents while wearing costumes that resemble stereotypical depictions of Mexicans, Arab Muslims, Sikhs, and other groups.
SEE: Community leaders say Aurora councilmember mocking Mexicans, Muslims, others in Facebook ads ‘offensive’ and ‘racist’
In a statement, CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison said:
“The message that these videos send to members of minority communities in Aurora is that they are not respected and cannot expect to be represented by this elected official. We urge him to meet with leaders from the impacted communities and commit to serving all constituents equally. We offer our services to coordinate that meeting.”
He said the American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
SEE: Video: CAIR Condemns Neo-Nazi Antisemitic Sign Posted in N.C. County on First Day of Hanukkah
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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 Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com