The Texas Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas), along with other Texas Interfaith organizations, today sent a letter to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) urging its chairman to change the quarterly meeting venue of the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Anti-Semitism Advisory Commission (THGAAC).
The meeting is currently scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 8:30 AM, at the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) headquarters in San Antonio.
The coalition’s request stems from concerns over the suitability of the venue and its potential conflict with the THGAAC’s mission.
Its letters stated in part: “CUFI primarily advocates for a foreign state, Israel, that is currently committing what nearly all international human rights groups say are widespread crimes against humanity and war crimes. Israel is also under investigation by an international tribunal for a plausible case of genocide. The choice of host completely undermines THGAAC’s important mission.”
“The interfaith community in Texas, including the Jewish community, is concerned about how an open meeting can be held in a place like CUFI headquarters. Not only is the place potentially unsafe for multiple groups to attend the meeting in person, as required for the state open meetings, but it also contradicts the mission of the THGAAC that aims to dismantle antisemitism and confront hatred, prejudice, and indifference,” said Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin Operations Manager.
The mission of CAIR-Texas is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: Sameeha Rizvi, CAIR-Austin Community Engagement Organizer, srizvi@cair.com, 512-893-137