The Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Pittsburgh), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the termination of an Allegheny County Jail corrections officer who appeared in a racist video wielding a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire and using an anti-Black slur.
The widely shared video captured the officer holding a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire and using an anti-Black slur to describe it. While the footage was recorded outside the jail, county officials later confirmed the man in the video was an active corrections officer. He was placed on suspension in July while the matter was investigated, and his dismissal was announced on August 7, 2025.
SEE: Allegheny County Jail Officer Fired Following Racist Video Scandal in Pittsburgh
In a statement, CAIR-Pittsburgh Executive Director Christine Mohamed said:
“We welcome the county’s decision to terminate this officer. Racism and hate have absolutely no place in our criminal justice system, especially among those charged with the care and custody of incarcerated individuals. This action is a necessary first step, but it must be followed by broader reforms to ensure that no person in custody is subjected to abuse, bias, or discrimination.”
Mohamed urged Allegheny County officials to release the findings of their investigation, strengthen anti-bias training for all corrections staff, and implement greater oversight and accountability measures within the jail system.
She added that CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging systemic anti-Black racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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 Pittsburgh Executive Director Christine Mohamed, 412-606-3601, cmohamed@cair.com