For Immediate Release
CAIR-NY Supports Call for Security Grant Program
(New York City, N.Y., 3/13/17) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a leading civil rights organization for Muslims, today supported the call for a Security Grant Program by a coalition of New York City Council Members, city leaders and nonprofit institution in response to an alarming rise in hate crimes.
The group noted the 54% uptick in hate crimes within New York City in the last year among various groups as reason for necessary city funding in the amount of $25 million to protect community centers, cultural institutions, and advocacy organizations.
"Given the unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes and attacks, we expect Muslim community centers and mosques will be amongst the first to receive funding under this program." said CAIR-NY's Legal Director, Albert Cahn. "New York's Muslim and Jewish communities have both seen a terrifying rise in violence, and we expect that this funding will help both communities keep their members safe."
SEE: Protecting New York's Communities from Hate Crimes
http://www.marklevine.nyc/protecting_ny_from_hatecrimes
CAIR-NY also condemned the desecration of graves at the Waad Hakolel Cemetery in Rochester, New York. Approximately a dozen headstones at the Jewish cemetery were toppled in attacks similar to those at Jewish cemeteries in Philadelphia, and St. Louis , making it the third such attack in two weeks.
SEE: Another Jewish cemetery is vandalized, this time in New York
CAIR-NY also condemned an apparent bias attack on a Latino man in Brooklyn, NY, which took place on Wednesday evening. According to the NYPD, the assailant called the victim a “f***ing Mexican” and said “go back to your country,” before punching the victim multiple times, breaking his nose. The attack took place at the southbound J-train platform at the Crescent Street station.
SEE: Attacker yells, ‘Go back to your country,’ then breaks man’s nose on Brooklyn subway platform
CAIR-NY’s statement was just the latest in a series of actions to promote solidarity between Muslim Americans and other targets of hate crimes. Last month, CAIR’s national office offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons who threatened at least 10 Jewish Community Centers nationwide.
SEE: CAIR Offers Reward for Info on Threats Targeting Jewish Community Centers Nationwide
In the same month, Florida chapter of CAIR expressed solidarity with the Jewish community after vehicles in a predominately Orthodox Jewish Community were vandalized with Nazi swastikas.
SEE: CAIR-FL Expressed Solidarity with Jewish Community After Hate Vandalism
CAIR’s Ohio chapter also expressed solidarity with the Jewish community of Ohio after a series of bomb threats targeted Jewish Communities throughout the nation, including the Mandel JCC in Cleveland, the JCC in Cincinnati, and the JCC in Columbus.
SEE: CAIR-Ohio Expressed Solidarity with Ohio Jewish Community
CAIR and the American Muslim community has in the past expressed solidarity with Jewish, Christian, Native American, African-American, and Sikh communities in New Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Alabama, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and other states following acts of hate, violence, vandalism, arson, or bombings.
SEE: CAIR, Coalition Partners Condemn Latest Incident of Nooses Discovered in Calvert County, Md.
CAIR-Cincinnati, CAIR-Alabama Condemn Nazi Vandalism Targeting Interracial Couples
CAIR Welcomes Denial of Easement for Dakota Access Pipeline
CAIR Condemns Threat and Vandalism Targeting Home of Jewish Professor in Oberlin, Ohio
Muslim community members are asked to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-NY at (646) 665-7599, or by filing a report at: http://www.cair-ny.org/incident-report/
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; Legal Director Albert Cahn, 571-766-6273,acahn@cair.com,CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com.