The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed a guilty plea by a man who made threats on social media targeting Black and Muslim communities.
Raymond Pumphrey, 46, of Aberdeen, Md., also threatened to kill politicians and members of their families. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 29 and faces a maximum of five years in prison.
In a statement, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“This guilty plea sends a clear message that threats of violence targeting minority communities will not be tolerated. Hate-fueled rhetoric and online threats have real-world consequences, instilling fear and trauma in families and undermining the safety of our neighborhoods.
We commend law enforcement authorities and prosecutors for taking these threats seriously and pursuing accountability. At a time when communities across our state are experiencing rising incidents of bias and intimidation, it is critical that our justice system respond swiftly and decisively.”
“We must continue working together to address the root causes of hate, strengthen protections against bias-motivated crimes and ensure that every Marylander can live free from fear.”
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 Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530(tel:404-285-9530), e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com