The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a decision by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to return a Confederate monument that “whitewashes slavery” to Arlington National Cemetery in Northern Virginia.
According to Marine Corps Times: “The Arlington National Cemetery sculpture — made by Moses Ezekiel, a Confederate veteran — was first installed at the site in 1914 after a campaign by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to promote positive aspects of the separatist movement.”
CAIR welcomed removal of the monument in 2023.
In a statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:
“The return of this monument to Arlington Cemetery is a troubling attempt to glorify a legacy rooted in slavery and white supremacy. Monuments like this do not honor history—they distort it, erasing the pain endured by enslaved people and their descendants. Our nation deserves public spaces that reflect justice, equality, and truth—not a whitewashed version of history.”
He noted that earlier this week, CAIR said the planned return of a Confederate statue to Washington, D.C., is an attempt to “turn back the clock” to the pre-civil rights era.”
Hooper said CAIR has repeatedly called for the removal of Confederate names, holidays, flags, statues, and symbols nationwide.
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 Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com