(BOSTON, MA, 11/17/2023) – The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) today welcomed approval of a request for a permit to raise a Palestinian flag on the North Andover Town Common. The flag was raised Tuesday morning and will remain up until December 7.
“We welcome this fair and inclusive decision by North Andover officials. The residents who asked for the Town to raise the Palestinian flag are equally entitled to promote the symbol of their history and culture, as well as a reminder of the on-going suffering in Gaza,” said CAIR-MA Executive Director Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, Esq. “Local governments are wise to recognize that we live in diverse communities with a wide variety of viewpoints.”
CAIR-MA Legal Director Barbara J. Dougan said, “This is what the First Amendment looks like in action. It’s also what the rule of law looks like in a democracy. Just last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the City of Boston when it tried to cherry pick the flags that the City would allow. Here, North Andover first flew the Israeli flag, at residents’ request. They are now flying the Palestinian flag, at residents’ request. We commend North Andover officials for not wasting taxpayers’ money by inviting a lawsuit they would lose.”
Amatul-Wadud added that earlier this month, CAIR-MA published data reporting a 300% increase in calls for help during the month of October, compared to the same period last year.
The data reflect the impact of events in Gaza and the West Bank on local residents, as evidenced by the increasing Islamophobic rhetoric and hate incidents targeting Muslim, immigrant, and Arab communities across the United States.
She noted that Washington, D.C., based CAIR has documented an unprecedented spike in reported bias incidents since the escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine on Oct. 7.
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: Barbara J. Dougan, CAIR-MA Legal Director, 781-281-9992, bdougan@cair.com