The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest on hate crime charges of a Nebraska man who allegedly threatened a man from Africa with a gun and made anti-immigrant remarks.
According to local authorities, 35-year-old Johnathon Dimmitt allegedly chased a man with what the victim believed was a weapon, then confronted other African men and reportedly stated that they were “illegals” who “should be deported.”
In a statement, Washington, D.C., based CAIR said:
“We welcome the swift action by law enforcement in arresting the suspect in this disturbing incident. No one should be targeted, threatened or intimidated because of their race, national origin or perceived immigration status. Such alleged acts of bias and intimidation harm not only the immediate victims but also create fear throughout entire minority communities. We urge law enforcement authorities to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law and to send a clear message that hate and bigotry have no place in our society.”
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 National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@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