The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, condemned a reported racist campaign targeting a school district in Vermont following the raising of the Somali flag “to show support for its Somali community in response to President Donald Trump’s tirade last week during a Cabinet meeting against Somali people living in Minnesota.”
Within hours of the district posting images and video of the flag-raising, the school was inundated with a deluge of hateful, harassing and threatening phone calls and messages. According to the superintendent, callers used racial slurs – including the N-word – and in some instances threatened violence, saying things like “We’re coming for you. You don’t know what’s coming.”
In a statement, CAIR said:
“Targeting a public school for standing in solidarity with Somali students sends a chilling message. We reject the idea that showing respect for immigrant communities is in any way controversial. Local and federal law enforcement authorities must investigate these harassing and threatening communications and hold accountable any individuals responsible for hate-based harassment or threats.”
Earlier today, CAIR called on local, state and national law enforcement authorities to investigate vandalism targeting a Norfolk, Virginia, mosque as a hate crime.
Earlier this week, CAIR’s Minnesota chapter responded to a fire that heavily damaged the Masjid Hamza AI-Mahmood Foundation and Baitul Hikmah Academy in Prior Lake. [NOTE: “Masjid” is “mosque” in Arabic.]
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]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]