(WASHINGTON D.C., 9/2/2021) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court allowing the state to remove a statue of Confederate commander Robert E. Lee in Richmond.
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the 21-foot bronze equestrian statue of Robert E. Lee could be removed from its location in the state capital. The ruling came in two lawsuits seeking to block the statue’s removal. Ten days after the killing of George Floyd last year, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced plans to remove the statue, which would become the epicenter of protests against racial injustice and police brutality.
SEE: Gen. Lee Statue Can be Removed, Virginia Supreme Court Rules
https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/nation-world/national/article253940298.html
In a statement, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper said:
“Robert E. Lee fought a war against this nation for the sake of slavery and white supremacy. Such actions do not deserve to be honored with memorials on public land. We welcome the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling allowing the removal of this statue, and urge all cities nationwide to rid themselves of all symbols of systemic anti-Black racism and bigotry.”
Hooper noted that CAIR applauded Governor Northam’s decision to remove the statue last year.
SEE: CAIR Applauds Planned Removal of Statue Honoring ‘White Supremacist and Traitor’ Robert E. Lee’s in Richmond, Virginia
Hooper said the American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
SEE: CAIR-Kentucky Supports Moving Trials from District in Which Prosecutor Made Racist Remark
CAIR Concerned About Passage of N.C. Bill Targeting Anti-Racism Teaching, Supports Removal of N.C. Confederate Statue
CAIR Calls on Biden Administration, Congress to Make Assistance to Local Law Enforcement Contingent on Reporting, Compiling Hate Crime Data
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.
Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational
Subscribe to CAIR’s Email List
https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters
Subscribe to CAIR’s Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational
Subscribe to CAIR’s YouTube Channel
Follow CAIR on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/
Donate to CAIR
https://action.cair.com/a/donate
Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.
If you would like join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com
END
CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com