(BALTIMORE, MD, 10/16/18) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined with the Howard County Muslim Council to welcome a public apology from Republican candidate David Yungmann for an Islamophobic mailer sent to residents from his campaign.
SEE: Republican Candidate for County Council Apologizes
https://www.facebook.com/265793033887387/posts/521408744992480/
Yungmann is campaigning for Howard County Council’s District 5 seat. Last Friday, CAIR condemned the message in the mailer, which cited opposition TO A MOSQUE in Howard County as one of Yungmann’s biggest achievements.
SEE: CAIR Condemns Maryland GOP Candidate’s Islamophobic Campaign Mailer Citing Opposition to Mosque Expansion
In a statement released yesterday, Yungmann partly said:
“Over the past few days, numerous people have reached out to me directly intending to help me understand the issue from their perspective and to hear mine. I appreciate these conversations and, thanks to the individuals who made the effort to contact me, I have a better understanding of the sensitivity to any perceived anti-Muslim message. I apologize to anyone that was hurt or offended by my poor choice of words.”
“We welcome Mr. Yungmann’s public apology and commitment to dialogue,” said CAIR Director of Maryland Outreach Zainab Chaudry. “We look forward to engaging with him and encourage him to also reconsider the placement of a testimonial on his website applauding his mosque opposition because of the negative message it sends to his supporters.”
Chaudry added that elected officials and candidates running for public office have an obligation to use their platforms responsibly, and avoid language or behavior that profiles, stereotypes, or potentially incites hostility towards any community.
CAIR-NJ: Chatham Councilman Apologizes for Anti-Muslim Statements
“I want to thank the community at large for their outpouring of support and for standing with us,” said Ainy Kazmi, president of the Howard County Muslim Council. “This apology was an important step, and we hope Mr. Yungmann will continue to make steps to meet with our council as well as with other leaders in the Muslim community.”
Earlier this month, CAIR called on Anne Arundel County Councilman John Grasso, who is campaigning for a seat in the State Senate, to step down after anti-Islamic Facebook posts.
SEE: CAIR Calls for Anne Arundel County Councilman to Step Down After Anti-Islamic Facebook Posts
After an ensuing public outcry and media scrutiny, Grasso later apologized and removed the problematic social media posts.
SEE: Grasso Apologizes to Muslim Council President, Deletes ‘Hate-Filled’ Posts
http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/elections/ac-cn-grasso-apology-1005-story.html
Recently, CAIR also called on the Mayor of the City of Hagerstown in Washington County, Maryland to publicly apologize for a social media comment calling the Muslim Mayor of London Sadiq Khan a ”˜terrorist.’
SEE: Hagerstown Mayor Bruchey Criticized for Social-Media Comment Calling London’s Muslim Mayor a Terrorist
The civil rights and advocacy organization also later welcomed his apology.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Bruchey’s ‘Delayed Apology’ For Social-Media Comment, Seeks Meeting
CAIR’s 2018 Civil Rights Report, ”˜Targeted’, the organization recorded a 17 percent increase in bias-motivated incidents against Muslim Americans from 2016-17, and a 15 percent increase in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes in the same time period.
CAIR noted that this latest incident is yet another example of the emboldening of intolerant attitudes observed from public officials and individuals in positions of authority in Maryland and across the country.
Video: CAIR-San Diego Condemns Public Official Who Called Muslims ”˜Sub-Human Scum’
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9NDCs1Kiu_M
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.
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CONTACT: CAIR Director of Maryland Outreach Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, [email protected]