(WASHINGTON D.C., 9/15/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today thanked the Transylvania County, N.C. Sheriff’s Office for apologizing for its use of a stereotypical image of a man wearing a Palestinian headscarf (keffiyeh) and holding an AK-47-style in an active shooter training for public school students and staff.
The image was used during a training held by the Transylvania Sheriff’s Office at Rosman Middle and Rosman High School “for any kind of active threat,” including the “threat of a gunman.” In an email to VICE News, Transylvania County Sheriff David Mahoney said the image was donated by a local gun range.
“I did not hear any comments from the participants that would indicate Islamophobia or that negative stereotypes were reinforced. That certainly was not our intention. With that said, I understand the concern shared, and for that, I apologize for any misunderstanding,” Sheriff Mahoney said.
In a statement, CAIR Deputy Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“We thank Sheriff Mahoney for apologizing for the use of this unacceptable image. We urge all law enforcement agencies to avoid using false, racist stereotypes during their training programs, especially for students and other members of the public.”
In a letter sent to the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office today, CAIR said in part:
“We thank your office for planning and conducting this training to safeguard the children and citizens of Transylvania County. We also thank you for clarifying that you understand concerns about the image depicting and apologizing for the use of the shooting target.
Using images like these to represent an active shooter or target reinforces negative stereotypes about Palestinian-Americans, Arab-Americans, and American Muslims. These negative stereotypes are unfounded, given that the overwhelming majority of school shooters are not Arab-American or Muslim.
The use of such shooting range targets could also inappropriately train officers to perceive Arab and Muslim residents as a potential threat, which dehumanizes them and threatens their safety, security, and ability to trust in your office and its officers.
Going forward, we encourage the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office to:
- Communicate to its officers that it is inappropriate to use images or actors in active shooter trainings that depict ethnic stereotypes or otherwise depict a shooter’s national origin or religion.
- Arrange periodic cultural sensitivity training to raise awareness and understanding about American Muslims and their beliefs.
Yesterday, CAIR thanked the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, which was originally misidentified as the agency responsible, for clarifying that their office did not use the image and would never use such an image.
SEE: CAIR Thanks Macon Co. Sheriff’s Office for Clarifying that a Different Agency Used Stereotypical ‘Arab’ Target Image in School Shooter Training
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 Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]