CAIR-NY Calls on Yonkers Mayor, Elected Officials to Condemn Intimidating Anti-Palestinian Letter Targeting Residents
(NEW YORK, NY, 9/17/2026) - 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 called on Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and local elected officials to publicly condemn an intimidating letter sent to a Yonkers couple after they displayed Palestinian flags outside their home.
The letter, which was addressed to the couple by name and to their home address, demanded that they remove their Palestinian flags and included threats and references to alleged federal immigration and law enforcement involvement. The letter stated that the couple's home was “now under surveillance” and that individuals would be “watching 24/7.” It also invoked federal officials, including “border czar” Tom Homan, while telling the couple, “If you love Palestine so much, go back. We don't want you here.”
The letter further accused the couple of being “obnoxious” for displaying Palestinian flags and demanded that they replace them with American flags.
The incident has been reported to the Yonkers Police Department and is currently under investigation. CAIR-NY thanks the Yonkers Police Department’s 2nd Precinct for its prompt attention and diligence in responding to the incident and for stepping up patrols in the area.
“Receiving a letter addressed to my name and my home, telling me that my family is being watched and demanding that we remove our Palestinian flags, was deeply disturbing,” said Samir Nofal, the Yonkers resident who received the letter. “We should not have to fear being targeted simply because we chose to display a Palestinian flag outside our home. I am a proud Yonkers resident, and displaying a Palestinian flag does not make me any less American or any less deserving of safety and respect. I hope our elected officials will speak out clearly against this kind of intimidation and make sure no other family in our community is subjected to it.”
“No one should be threatened, surveilled or told to ‘go back’ because of a flag displayed outside their own home,” said Afaf Nasher, Esq., Executive Director of CAIR-NY. “This letter is a disturbing attempt to intimidate a Yonkers family for expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people. Families (and elected officials) often display flags from all over the world without incident, but it seems Palestine is always the exception. We urge Mayor Spano and Yonkers elected officials to unequivocally condemn this rhetoric and reaffirm that Palestinian New Yorkers have every right to live openly, express their views and feel safe in their own communities.”
CAIR-NY is calling on local officials to publicly reject attempts to intimidate or harass residents because of their political expression and to ensure that reports of threats or harassment are taken seriously.
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
Samir Nofal, (914)-258-7539
Afaf Nasher, Esq. CAIR-NY Executive Director, ANasher@cair.com
CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com