The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Minnesota chapter (CAIR-MN) today welcomed federal charges for an attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis.
CAIR and its Minnesota chapter (CAIR-MN) previously condemned that attack.
Department of Justice filed federal charges against Anthony James Kazmierczak, 55, after he appeared to spray Omar with liquid from a syringe as she addressed constituents the town hall meeting.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“We welcome these federal charges for the attack on Representative Ilhan Omar as an important step toward accountability and justice. The dangerous climate of dehumanization that inevitably leads to such violent acts puts public servants and entire communities at risk.”
Rep. Omar has been the frequent target of anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant and anti-Somali hate rhetoric. CAIR and CAIR-MN have repeatedly condemned the rhetorical attacks on Rep. Omar and the Somali community.
END
CONTACT: Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director, CAIR-MN, 612-406-0070, jhussein@cair.com; Suleiman Adan, Deputy Executive Director, CAIR-MN — 612-408-7183, sadan@cair.com; 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