The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed charges brought against a man who allegedly attempted to spray a harmful substance at congregants at a Washington, D.C., synagogue.
An Ohio man was charged with three counts of obstructing by force or threat of force a person’s enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs while using a dangerous weapon over an incident that occurred last December. The man reportedly drove a U-Haul truck around security barriers and parked directly in front of a synagogue in Georgetown. He then allegedly sprayed a harmful substance at congregants while yelling “Gas the Jews!”
SEE: USAO: Man charged with federal hate crime for DC synagogue attack
“We welcome the charges against this individual and we’re thankful that no congregants were hurt in this disturbing incident,” said CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison. “Attacks on houses of worship and their congregants are absolutely unacceptable and must be taken seriously by law enforcement authorities and public officials.”
He said 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 National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com