CAIR-NY Welcomes Arrest in Islamophobic Hate Attack on New York Cab Driver
(NEW YORK, NY, 1/23/17) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today welcomed an arrest for the allegedly Islamophobic hate attack on a New Paltz, New York cab driver.
According to police, the alleged perpetrator held a gun to the driver’s head and called him a “motherf---ing piece of Muslim sh-t.” Andrew M. Placheck, faces multiple felony hate crime charges for the Sunday Morning attack, including menacing, displaying a weapon, and reckless endangerment.
SEE: Suspect in New Paltz hate crime case was drunk and used vulgarities in reference to Islam, police say
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20170123/suspect-in-new-paltz-hate-crime-case-was-drunk-and-used-vulgarities-in-reference-to-islam-police-say
“We’re grateful to our law enforcement partners for their quick response to this disturbing attack,” said CAIR-NY Director of Strategic Litigation Albert Cahn. “This is no place for this sort of violence and hatred in New York State.”
Earlier today, CAIR-NY welcomed news of an arrest in a hate attack on a Brooklyn priest. In that matter, the alleged perpetrator shouted racial slurs, spat on the victim, and brandished a baseball bat.
SEE: CAIR-NY Welcomes Arrest in Hate Attack on Brooklyn Priest
https://www.cair-ny.org/news/2017/1/23/new-york-chapter-of-cair-condemns-racial-hate-attack-against-nigerian-priest-in-brooklyn
Last week, CAIR-NY condemned a bomb threat against a Syracuse Jewish Community Center. The threat, which was made by telephone, forced the center to evacuate its facility and conduct a full k-9 sweep.
SEE: CAIR-NY Condemns Bomb Threats Against Syracuse, NY Jewish Community
https://www.cair-ny.org/news/2017/1/19/cair-ny-condemns-bomb-threats-against-syracuse-ny-jewish-community
Late last month, CAIR’s national office expressed solidarity with Montana’s Jewish communities after neo-Nazis announced plans to stage an armed, anti-Semitic march in that state. In that case, a leader of the neo-Nazi movement announced plans for the hate march in Whitefish, Montana “against Jews, Jewish businesses and everyone who supports either.”
SEE: CAIR Expresses Solidarity with Montana Jewish Community as Neo-Nazi Plans Armed Anti-Semitic March
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13973-cair-expresses-solidarity-with-montana-jewish-community-as-neo-nazi-plans-armed-anti-semitic-march.html
That same month, CAIR’s Greater Los Angeles Area chapter expressed similar solidarity with the Christian community in that state following apparent hate vandalism targeting an Assyrian church in San Fernando, Calif.
SEE: CAIR-LA Expresses Solidarity with Christian Community After Hate Vandalism of Assyrian Church
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13933-cair-la-expresses-solidarity-with-christian-community-after-hate-vandalism-of-assyrian-church.html
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.
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: https://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; Director of Strategic Litigation Albert Cahn, 571-766-6273, acahn@cair.com