The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today sought an explanation for why police have not served an arrest warrant for a male individual who was captured on video threatening to kill Muslims and community members peacefully demonstrating at a ceasefire rally in Rockville last Fall.
In November, after a group of protesters gathered in Montgomery County to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, a group of anti-Palestinian protesters gathered to oppose them. One demonstrator, using a megaphone, said “we will secure America against you animals […] we’ll take your heads, we’ll take your lives […] because we are white, and you are murderers.” The man was charged with making a threat of mass violence but has not yet been arrested. Montgomery County Police Department confirmed to CAIR that there is an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
In a statement, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“Any individual who’s allegedly threatened to commit an act of mass violence poses a potential risk to public safety. CAIR is seeking answers as to why police have not yet taken this suspect into custody. We are calling on the Montgomery County Police Department to investigate the circumstances of this outstanding warrant and make sure it is served swiftly so those who were terrorized with his violent threats have peace of mind and closure. All communities have a right to feel safe in Montgomery County, including Muslim and Palestinian Americans and our allies.”
She noted that CAIR condemned the anti-Palestinian demonstration in November.
Recently, the civil rights group joined Jewish Voice for Peace Baltimore and American Muslims for Palestine in condemning alleged assaults and slurs at peaceful protest in Baltimore.
CAIR’s new civil rights report released earlier this month revealed the highest number of complaints ever received in its 30-year history.
SEE: New CAIR Civil Rights Report Reveals Highest Number of Complaints in Group’s 30-Year History
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 Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com; National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com