Muslim civil rights group decries racist threats at Iowa high school football game, racist remarks targeting N.M. Native American student athletes
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/27/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned alleged racist threats and violence targeting student athletes at a high school football game in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
CAIR also condemned reported racist remarks targeting Native American student athletes at a middle school football game in New Mexico.
Police are investigating allegations that fans of Council Bluffs’ Thomas Jefferson High School football team threatened players on Des Moines’ Hoover High School team and called them racial slurs after a game on Friday.
According to Hoover High School’s coach, Thomas Jefferson fans rushed the field to celebrate after their team’s victory. Three of the fans allegedly yelled racial slurs at the Hoover players, threw things at them, shoved cameras and phones in their faces, and pushed them. Hoover’s coach said that after his players left the field, another group of 50 or so Thomas Jefferson fans attempted to intimidate them as they were getting on their bus.
SEE: Police investigate alleged racism and threats against football team
The coach of the Los Alamos Middle School football team is having players take cultural sensitivity training following an incident earlier this month in which some of them allegedly made racist remarks targeting players on the Santa Fe Indian School’s team. Los Alamos players reportedly chanted “go back to the rez” to the Santa Fe players, who are Native American.
SEE: Los Alamos Middle School football racist comments
“No student should be subjected to racist abuse or violence at school sporting events,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “Educational institutions nationwide must ensure students are educated on the harms caused by racism and are provided a safe learning environment.”
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.
SEE: CAIR Condemns Racist Vandalism at Iowa College
CAIR Welcomes Resignation of North Carolina Sheriff Over Racist Comments
Video: CAIR-MN Director Jaylani Hussein Responds to Fargo Muslim Cemetery Vandalism
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, 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 Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com