(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/24/2019) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on law enforcement authorities in Arkansas to investigate a possible bias motive for vandalism of a memorial to the 1919 massacre of African-Americans in that state.
A tree honoring the 200 African-American sharecroppers massacred by a white mob in September 1919 in Elaine, Ark. — one of the deadliest racist attacks in U.S. history — was chopped down this week. The memorial tag was stolen. [NOTE: Hundreds of African-American men, women and children were burned, shot, lynched, or beaten to death by white mobs in 1919 during what was called “Red Summer.”]
Red Summer 1919: Tree memorializing black Americans killed in Elaine, Arkansas, cut down (USA Today)
Tree remembering victims of Elaine Massacre chopped down, state investigating
Red Summer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Summer
“When past evils are forgotten, they are more likely to be repeated. We urge law enforcement authorities to take the possibility of a bias motive for this vandalism seriously and to bring the perpetrators to justice,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.
He said CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority communities since the election of Donald Trump as president.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Hate Crime Charges for Racist Incident in Wisconsin
https://www.cair.com/cair_welcomes_hate_crime_charges_for_racist_incident_in_wisconsin
CAIR Condemns Trump’s Anti-Semitic ”˜Disloyal’ Slurs Targeting American Jewish Community
CAIR Joins Call to Ban Sale of Confederate Flags at Ohio Fair
https://www.cair.com/cair_joins_call_to_ban_sale_of_confederate_flags_at_ohio_fair
CAIR-NY Decries Colonie Police Department’s Failure to Charge White Military Official for Making Deadly Islamophobic Threats
CAIR Seeks Hate Crime Charge for Threat to Shoot D.C. Muslims
https://www.cair.com/cair_seeks_hate_crime_charge_for_threat_to_shoot_d_c_muslims
On November 9, CAIR will hold its 25th anniversary gala in Washington, D.C.
SEE: CAIR’s 25th Annual Gala
https://www.cair.com/25th_anniversary_banquet
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 National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ayan Ajeen, 202-774-0770, aajeen@cair.com
