CAIR Supports NY City Council Security Grant Program to Protect Muslim, Jewish and Other Community Institutions
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(NEW YORK, N.Y., 3/20/17) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today announced its support for a proposed New York City Council security grant program that would allocate $25 million to protect to help protect Muslim, Jewish and other nonprofit institutions, safeguarding those community centers and cultural institutions at the greatest risk of attack.
Official statistics show a 54 percent uptick in hate crimes New York City in 2016; however, reports to CAIR-NY indicate a much greater increase in such incidents targeting the Muslim community. CAIR-NY officials say they continue to see evidence of systemic under-reporting of anti-Muslim attacks.
"Given the unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes, we expect Muslim community centers and mosques will be among those receiving much-needed funding under this program," said CAIR-NY’s Board President Zead Ramadan.
"New York's Muslim and Jewish communities have both seen a disturbing rise in violence, and we expect that this funding will help both faith communities keep their members safe," CAIR-NY's Legal Director Albert Cahn.
SEE: Protecting New York's Communities from Hate Crimes
http://www.marklevine.nyc/protecting_ny_from_hatecrimes
A soon-to-be-published CAIR report on Islamophobia in America is expected to show that 2016 was the worst year on record for incidents in which mosques were targets of bias.
Yesterday, CAIR’s Iowa chapter called for a hate crime investigation of an anti-Muslim message left at a mosque in that state.
Video: CAIR-Iowa Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Trump Supporter's Anti-Muslim Message Left at Mosque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Np2VpPOnvU
CAIR’s Arizona chapter recently called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate the desecration of copies of the Quran, Islam’s holy text, by an intruder at a Tucson mosque.
Video: CAIR Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Quran Desecration at Tucson Mosque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyTKAYx3Ha8
The Texas office of CAIR also welcomed an arrest of a man suspected of setting fire to the Islamic Center of Victoria in Victoria, Texas, in January.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Arrest in Arson Attack on Texas Mosque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo5Lb5YqmLc
CAIR is asking American Muslims and Islamic institutions to take extra security precautions and is offering Muslim community leaders free copies of its booklet, "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety." The booklet may be requested through CAIR's website:
CAIR’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C., has noted an unprecedented spike in hate incidents targeting Muslims and other minority groups since the November 8 election.
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 proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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