MEDIA ADVISORY: CAIR-NY to Join Interfaith Coalition in Demanding Accountability for Islamophobia Promoted by City Council Member
(NEW YORK, NY, 06/04/2026) - On Friday, June 5, the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) will join Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Sikh, and allied faith leaders on the steps of New York City Hall to call on the New York City Council and City Council Speaker Julie Menin to ensure accountability for Islamophobia instigated by a council member.
The event follows growing concern over a social media post by New York City Council Member Inna Vernikov about Muslim worshippers who were praying outside a Brooklyn mosque and neighboring Yeshiva school for girls. In her post, she wrote “...why do a bunch of GROWN MEN need to do this outside of a school full of little Jewish girls???”
She further implied that the worshippers intentionally gathered outside the Yeshiva and called upon the mayor to respond. The post, which circulated widely online, sparked vile anti-Muslim statements against the mosque and the Muslim community.
WHO: Muslim, Jewish, Christian & Sikh faith and community leaders of the New York Coalition for Safety, Protection, Equity & Accountability
WHAT: Congregational prayer & press conference against hate and honoring the victims of the San Diego mosque attack.
WHEN: Friday, June 5, 1:00 PM
WHERE: City Hall Steps, Broadway & Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007
CONTACT: Maruf Alam at 718-219-0982, Yasser Salem at Yasser@OneNYC.com / 718-6443042, Communications at CAIR-NY, comms@ny.cair.com / 917-669-4006
ABOUT THE COALITION
The New York Coalition for Safety, Protection, Equity & Accountability is a growing interfaith alliance of Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Sikh, and allied faith and community organizations across New York City, including New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), OneNYC, MUNA APJ, Save the People, ICNA Council for Social Justice, Muslims Vote Project, Majlis Ash-Shura Islamic Leadership Council of New York, Desis rising up & Moving (DRUM), Arab American Association of New York (AAANY), Yemeni American Merchants Association (YAMA), Association of African American Imams, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ), Sikh American Merchants Association, Muslim Action Collective, Muslim Community Network (MCN), Mulsim American Association of New York (MAS-NY), Emgage Action, and Bangladeshi American Advocacy Group (BAAG). The coalition is united by a shared commitment to ensuring equal safety, protection, dignity, and accountability for every New Yorker.
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