(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/1/2022) – Community members, activists and leaders turned out on Saturday in the D.C. suburb of Arlington, Va. for the sold-out 28th annual banquet of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization.
The banquet featured inspirational messages from CAIR Board Chair Roula Allouch and Imam Siraj Wahhaj. Philosopher and civil rights activist Dr. Cornel West delivered the keynote address. CAIR awarded its American Muslim of the Year award to Ohio athlete-activist Noor Abukaram, who successfully championed a bill ensuring student athletes’ right to wear religiously-mandated clothing. CAIR also awarded its Trailblazer award to Jacob Bender, former executive director of CAIR-Philadelphia and the first Jewish CAIR executive director. Speakers at the banquet also highlighted the recent release of CAIR and Jetpac’s Directory of Muslim Elected Officials, which documents 189 elected officials who identify as Muslim across 30 states.
CAIR-Los Angeles, CAIR-Ohio, CAIR-Oklahoma and CAIR-Chicago also held annual banquets the same night.
Photos: CAIR’s Sold-Out 28th Annual Banquet, Oct. 29, 2022 in Arlington, Va.
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“We thank all those who turned out for CAIR’s 28th annual banquet to show support for our work and celebrate the great achievements we’ve made together in defending civil rights and promoting civic engagement for the American Muslim community,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “As a grassroots, community-supported civil rights organization, individual donors are our key to success.”
He also thanked all the CAIR staff and volunteers who made the event possible.
ACTION REQUESTED: Awad asked those who were unable to attend the event, but who wish to support CAIR’s work, to donate through its website: https://www.cair.com/donate
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.
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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]