CAIR-NY Condemns Bomb Threat, Vandalism After Racist Push-Back Against Buffalo Somali Flag Raising
(NEW YORK, NY, 7/6/2026) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a bomb threat and vandalism targeting Buffalo City Hall following a wave of racist online backlash over the city's ceremonial raising of the Somali flag to commemorate Somalia's Independence Day.
According to city officials, Buffalo Mayor Christopher P. Ryan said hateful online rhetoric surrounding the flag-raising event escalated into a bomb threat against City Hall, the theft of the flag and acts of vandalism.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
"The racist rhetoric and unlawful acts resulting from this manufactured controversy are both dangerous and unacceptable. It is no surprise that such hateful rhetoric can inspire criminal acts like bomb threats and vandalism.
"We urge political leaders, community organizations, and residents across our state to reject anti-Somali, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant hatred, and bigotry in all its forms and to stand together in defense of our neighbors. Diversity is one of New York's greatest strengths and attempts to intimidate communities through fear must never succeed."
Last week, CAIR-NY expressed profound disappointment and disgust after an anti-Muslim social media post was made from the account of a Capital Region restaurant in the immediate aftermath of the tragic death of 7-year-old Muslim child Harbe Nagi.
Washington, D.C. based CAIR’s latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 - the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
CAIR-NY’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY 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: Afaf Nasher, Esq. CAIR-NY Executive Director, ANasher@cair.com
CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com