CAIR-NY’s Statement on Black Lives Matter
Dear Community Members and Friends,
Asalaamu alaikum, Greetings of peace
On behalf of the entire CAIR-NY family, we write to express love for, solidarity with, and commitment to the entire African-American community, especially to Black families who have lost loved ones to state-sanctioned violence.
We are heartbroken over the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Steven Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Yassin Mohamed. They are simply the latest in a long line of Black men and women struck down around our nation, including New York, by police officers who were sworn to serve and protect them.
As a Muslim civil rights organization dedicated to harnessing our values in service to our society, CAIR-NY recognizes that justice for all people in America cannot come to fruition without an unwavering and unapologetic commitment to achieving justice for Black Americans. That includes an honest acknowledgment of entrenched anti-Blackness within our society.
To that end, CAIR-NY condemns all forms of anti-Black violence, whether the culprits are police officers like Daniel Pantaleo in New York or civilians like Gregory and Travis McMichael in Georgia. We also unequivocally condemn the dehumanization of Blackness, whether it occurs inside or outside our community.
However, we must do more than condemn. We must take concrete action.
As a first step, we urge our community to learn more about anti-racism measures by partnering with organizations dedicated to anti-racism initiatives. We further uplift the following demands that we have heard from our Black Muslim leaders:
Public Statement: Muslim organizations, mosques, and community centers should publish letters of solidarity with the Black members of their community, and in particular with Black families whose loved ones have been taken and impacted by police violence.
Action: Muslim individuals and organizations should participate in various local actions condemning anti-Blackness and police brutality, including peaceful mobilizations, strategic organizing, dedicated prayer services and sermons.
Community Education and Empowerment: Muslim organizations, mosques and community centers should commit internally and externally to addressing anti-Blackness through ongoing political education and allyship. For example, we can:
learn more from Black elders and youth inside and outside the Muslim community, including Black scholars and imams, Black civil rights leaders, and Black activists
engage in more courageous conversations across lines of race and culture that move us towards deepened partnerships, and
ensure that our organizations reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the American Muslim community.
We know that our faith is incompatible with systems of racial hierarchy, but we must do more to put this knowledge into action. We must redouble our efforts to do what our Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings be upon him) taught us to do: recognize, expose and reject racism, particularly the scourge of anti-Blackness.
Thank you for your support. Please always feel free to reach out to us with additional ideas, and please reach out to us if we can assist your community in pursuing these efforts.
Onward, God willing.
In love and solidarity,
The CAIR-NY Team