News, September 2012

Video: CAIR News Update, September 7, 2012

Video: Being Muslim in America (CAIR) Moderated by Dean Obeidallah, in this forum we discussed with a panel of experts, community leaders, educators and professionals the challenges of being Muslim in America and debated what is at the heart of U.S. perception.

CAIR-WA: Racist Graffiti Scrawled on Muslims' Rental Car

Muslim Democrats Talk Challenges, Celebrate Progress (LA Times)

Michigan Muslim Lawmaker Announces Obama Delegates

Video: Protesters Urge NY Railroad to Denounce Anti-Islam Ad

Plan for Detroit Mosque Draws Resistance from Christian Group

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• CAIR: Anti-Islamic Sentiment in America Troubles Muslims (CNN)
  This year's holy month of Ramadan, which ended August 19, was marred by a spate of violence at U.S. Islamic centers that included a fire, a homemade bomb and pig parts. The incidents were unprecedented in scale and scope, says the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
• • CAIR: AZ GOP Candidate Doubles Down on Anti-Islam Hate
    Grijalva called the comments hate speech, and the Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee have asked for an apology.
  • Backgrounder: Brigitte Gabriel and ACT! for America
• CAIR-St. Louis: Vigil for Sikh Shooting, Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes
  Saint Louis University's Interfaith Alliance, a student group on campus, will host a Candlelight Vigil on Wednesday, September 5 at 7 p.m. in Beracha Hall (Room 221) on the SLU campus. The vigil is in response to the deadly shooting spree at the Sikh Gurdwara in Wisconsin, the Joplin Mosque burning and the sharp increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes this summer.
• CAIR: Record Number of Muslim Delegates at Democratic Convention (Dispatch)
• • CAIR: Muslim Delegates at DNC Quadrupled Since 2004 (RNS)

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• CAIR Leadership Conference to Feature Top Trainers

Register TODAY for CAIR's September 29th leadership training conference and annual banquet at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va. In past years, the leadership conference and banquet were both sold out. No tickets will be sold at the door, so reserve your place RIGHT AWAY.

With the theme "Upholding Our Constitution, Defending Our Faith," the September 29th evening banquet will feature the Rev. Al Sharpton, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Imam Siraj Wahhaj as keynote speakers. Comedian Azhar Usman will provide entertainment.

Preceding the banquet, CAIR will host its day-long conference starting at 9 a.m. Registration is required for the conference, which features the following workshops from top trainers in their fields:

* Answering Tough Questions About Sharia
Learn how to respond effectively to the "hot button" attacks on Islamic principles that are employed by the growing Islamophobia industry in America. . . (SEE MORE)

• CAIR: Democrats Try to Fix Flap Over Platform's Jerusalem Language (USA Today)
  Hussam Ayloush, a delegate from California and Executive Director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he was "outraged" by the decision.
  • Video: Al Jazeera Looks at Rising Islamophobia in America

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• CAIR-Ohio Rep Joins Cleveland City Hall Panel on Race Relations
  A representative of the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) recently spoke as part of a panel on race relations hosted by the City of Cleveland and the Cleveland Community Relations Board.
• Ill. Grave Defaced with Anti-Islamic Writing for 2nd Time
  An Evergreen Cemetery grave was defaced with anti-Islamic writing sometime during the night on Aug. 28-29, said Evergreen Park Police Lt. Peter Donovan. The grave site, which also features a bench and obelisk, was vandalized with black marker scribblings in a manner almost identical to what was discovered and cleaned up two weeks ago, Donovan said. 
• CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 312-212-1520 or 202-870-0166, E-Mail: [email protected]
• • Backgrounders: Hate Graffiti Sprayed on Muslim Graves in Illinois
  • Video: CAIR-Chicago Responds to Hate Graffiti on Muslim Grave
• CAIR-LA: Hate Crimes in O.C. up 14 Percent Over 2010
  Members of those organizations, including the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center of Orange County, the Anti Defamation League, Christ Our Redeemer Church and the Council on American-Islamic Relations, addressed the report. "There's always more than one victim," said Ameena Qazi, an attorney with the American-Islamic council. "It's not just one person, it's the entire community."
• • Md. Governor Visits Muslims, Speaks Out Against Hate Crimes
  • Panel of NJ Lawmen, Muslim Leaders to Discuss Surveillance Report
  • Muslims are Our Neighbors; Welcome Them
• Islam, Muslims and the 2012 Elections
  • RNC Gambles with Anti-Sharia Platform
• Vilks Cites KKK to Defend Talk to U.S. Anti-Muslim Group / Romney Adviser to Speak at Anti-Islam Hate Fest
  Swedish artist Lars Vilks has defened his decision to speak at an anti-Islamic conference in New York on September 11th, claiming he would also accept an invitation from the Ku Klux Klan. Romney adviser John Bolton is scheduled to speak at the same anti-Islam hate fest.

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CAIR-WA: Seattle Muslims' Car Targeted by Hate Vandalism
Muslim civil rights group to call for bias crime investigation

(SEATTLE, WA, 9/6/12) – On Friday, September 7, the Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA) will hold a news conference in Seattle to call for a bias crime investigation of hate graffiti, including the slurs "sand n**gers," "doon [sic] coons," scrawled on a rental vehicle used by a group of Seattle-area Muslims on a recent vacation trip to Chelan, Wash. The vehicle was also physically vandalized with numerous scratches.

PHOTO: Hate Vandalism of Muslims' Car - 'Sand Ni**gers'
PHOTO: Hate Vandalism of Muslims' Car - 'Doon Coons'

[NOTE: "Sand n**ger" is a slur used to target those perceived to be Muslim or Arab-American. "Doon coon" is an apparent reference to the stereotypical belief that all Muslims originate in deserts, therefore the misspelled reference to "dunes."]

The Muslims believe the hate incident may have been triggered by a group prayer offered in a public area and the Islamic head covering (kufi) worn by one of the vacationers.

WHAT: CAIR-WA News Conference to Call for Hate Crime Probe of Alleged Bias Incident
WHEN: Friday, September 7, 10 a.m. (Pacific)
WHERE: CAIR-WA Seattle Office, 316 Maynard Avenue South, Suite 112A, Seattle, WA
CONTACT: CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari, 206-367-4081, 206-931-3655, E-Mail: [email protected]

At the news conference, CAIR-WA will also reveal details of an incident in which a Seattle-area Muslim woman alleges that she was assaulted because of her Islamic head scarf.

Last week, CAIR's Minnesota chapter called for an investigation of a suspicious fire outside a mosque in South Minneapolis. Muslim graves in Illinois were also desecrated with hate graffiti for the second time in one month.

CAIR: Muslim Grave Site Vandalized Again (Chicago Trib)

CAIR has seen an increase in hate incidents targeting American Muslims in the aftermath of the deadly attack on a Sikh temple in Wisconsin.

Recent incidents included shots fired at a mosque in Morton Grove, Ill., an acid bomb thrown at an Islamic school in Lombard, Ill., a mosque burned to the ground in Joplin, Mo., vandals spraying an Oklahoma mosque with paintballs, pig legs thrown at a mosque site in California, and a firebomb thrown at a Muslim family's home in Panama City, Fla.

CAIR: Anti-Islamic Sentiment in America Troubles Muslims (CNN)
String of Attacks Threaten U.S. Muslims During Ramadan
CAIR: Mosque Attacks Common Nationwide

Muslim individuals and institutions are being asked to review advice on security procedures in CAIR's "Community Security and Safety Tips."

SEE: CAIR Community Safety and Security Tips

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT:

CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari, 206-367-4081, 206-931-3655, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]

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