The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the firing of a deputy from Vermont’s Rutland County Sheriff’s Department after racist messages he reportedly sent were discovered.
According to multiple witnesses, the former deputy posted an offensive image in a group chat that included other members of the department. The image allegedly depicted officers wearing Ku Klux Klan attire making racist remarks to individuals in custody.
SEE: Rutland County Sheriff Department fires deputy alleged racist messages
“An individual who reportedly harbors hateful or bigoted views cannot be trusted with enforcing the law and upholding justice for all,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “We welcome the dismissal of this individual and hope the swift actions of officials will send a message to the community that bigotry will not be tolerated.”
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 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