(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/10/21) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a vote by Virginia’s Prince William Board of County Supervisors to purchase land in the Thoroughfare, Va., community on which historic African-American and Native American cemeteries are located.
Those cemeteries are the final resting places of at least 300 enslaved people, freedmen/freedwomen and Native-Americans.
Video: CAIR Welcomes Vote to Preserve Land with Historic African-American, Native American Cemeteries
Prince William Co. approves historic district land purchase for future park
BOCS Approves Land Purchase in Historic Thoroughfare Community
https://princewilliamliving.com/bocs-approves-land-purchase-in-historic-thoroughfare-community/
SEE: Coalition to Save Historic Thoroughfare (CSHT)
https://www.facebook.com/Coalition-To-Save-Historic-Thoroughfare-A-Town-Under-Siege-104115108438832/
“We welcome this vote as an initial step to protect the land in which enslaved people, freedmen and freewomen and Native Americans were laid to rest,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “We hope this vote — and future actions — will send the message that historic communities and sites must and will be preserved, not callously swept aside in the name of ‘development.’”
He added that CAIR has joined calls for a stay on development activity in the historic area and has supported the preservation of such sites nationwide.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Temporary Halt to Sale of Historic African-American Burial Ground in Maryland
CAIR Supports N. Va. Coalition Demand for Stay of Development Activity within Historic Virginia African-American and Native American Community
Video: CAIR Supports Protection for Historic Va. African-American, Native American Cemeteries
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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 to 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 Director of Government Affairs Department Robert S. McCaw at 202-999-8292, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com