The Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Pittsburgh), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined condemned the racist vandalism of a disabled man’s home in North Braddock, Pennsylvania.
On Monday, the words “Get Out” – along with a racial slur – were reportedly spray-painted on the home of Lemuel Howell Senior. Howell is an African American man with limited eyesight who has lived in the neighborhood for 22 years. Authorities are actively investigating the incident as a potential hate crime.
SEE: Police investigate racial slur spray-painted on North Braddock home
In a statement, CAIR-Pittsburgh Executive Director Christine Mohamed said:
“This hate-filled act is both heartbreaking and unacceptable. No one should ever feel unsafe or unwelcome in their own home or community because of their race or background. We call on local law enforcement to treat this incident with the seriousness it deserves and to pursue a thorough hate crime investigation. We also urge community leaders and elected officials to speak out clearly against the rising tide of hate that continues to threaten the safety and dignity of our neighbors.”
She noted that last month, CAIR-Pittsburgh condemned the distribution of white supremacist propaganda pamphlets at homes in Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
Mohamed urged community members who encounter hate incidents to report them to local authorities and to CAIR at: https://www.cair.com/report
She said Washington, D.C., based CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Pittsburgh Executive Director Christine Mohamed, 412-606-3601, cmohamed@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