The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the reported racist harassment in Urbandale, Iowa, in which a man allegedly drove around a woman and her young children repeatedly yelling a racial slur.
CAIR also condemned a series of incidents of racist, neo-Nazi vandalism in that state.
The Ames Police Department is investigating several reports of vandalism over the past few weeks that involved the spray-painting of Nazi swastikas and racial slurs such as the “n-word.”
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“These disturbing incidents reflect a broader and deeply troubling rise in overt expressions of racism and hate in our society. No family should be subjected to harassment and intimidation, and no community should have to endure the appearance of symbols historically associated with violence, genocide, and white supremacy.
“We commend law enforcement authorities for taking these incidents seriously. Those responsible must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. It is critical that community leaders and public officials speak out clearly and unequivocally against hate in all its forms.”
Last year, CAIR condemned a reported demonstration by a white supremacist neo-Nazi group, Aryan Freedom Network, in Marion, Iowa.
Also last year, CAIR condemned a march by the white supremacist group Patriot Front in Des Moines, Iowa.
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