(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/4/2021) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned racist threats targeting Tennessee official who is leading the movement to relocate the remains of former Ku Klux Klan (KKK) leader and Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest from a public park.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also supported an NAACP call to remove a Confederate memorial in Virginia.
In Tennessee, local media captured an allegedly threatening altercation between a member of Confederate 901 and Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer during removal of the remains. The Memphis Police Department is investigating the incident. Sawyer says she also received threats on social media.
SEE: MPD investigating reports of racist, violent threats against Commissioner Tami Sawyer
Earlier this year, CAIR condemned as “pro-Confederate” a bill in the Tennessee Senate that would replace every member of a state board that voted to remove a bust of Forrest from the State Capitol.
CAIR Condemns Tenn. ‘Pro-Confederate’ Bill to Replace Commission Members Who Voted to Remove KKK Leader’s Statue
In Virginia, King George County officials will consider removing a Confederate memorial from the lawn of the county’s courthouse. Chairwoman Annie Cupka directed staff “to determine the cost of the relocation and to work with community groups to raise the necessary funding.”
King George NAACP Vice President Robert Ashton Jr. asked the board to remove the monument, which has been at the courthouse since 1976.
SEE: King George County to look into moving Confederate memorial
Let’s relocate this memorial and move forward,’ says president of KG chapter of NAACP
“Those calling for the removal of monuments to slavery, anti-Black racism and white supremacy must be supported by all Americans who want our nation to move forward with justice and equality for all,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.
Hooper said CAIR has repeatedly urged the removal of Confederate holidays, symbols and racist laws.
SEE: CAIR Condemns ‘Celebration’ of North Carolina ‘Confederate Day’
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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 Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com