CAIR-New York Welcomes Arrest of White Supremacist Who Used Facebook to Plot Attacks on Muslims; Urges Community to Remain Vigilant
(NEW YORK, N.Y., 4/5/19) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the arrest of a white supremacist plotting a New Zealand inspired terrorist attack on Muslims. CAIR-NY also urged the Muslim community to remain vigilant.
New York resident Thomas Alonzo Bolin, 22, was arrested for lying to the FBI about possessing a weapon. Bolin managed a white supremacist Facebook group and was reportedly plotting – along with his cousin -- a terror attack against Muslims. Bolin came under scrutiny after his cousin, Austin Witkowski, allegedly called for a re-enactment in the United States of the terror attack on two mosques in New Zealand. Witkowski reportedly sent threatening messages on the day of the New Zealand attack and “indicated that he was willing to ‘do something as of next week’ in Baltimore.”
SEE: Feds Say White Supremacist Cousins Used Facebook to Discuss Attack on Muslims
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-supremacist-facebook-thomas-bolin_n_5ca63188e4b05acba4de053e
"Today's developments highlight the growing threats of white supremacy and Islamophobia in this country," said CAIR-NY Litigation Director Ahmed Mohamed. "While the FBI has identified white supremacy as a threat to society, we have a president that continues to fuel the rise of this hateful ideology."
"We are grateful that law enforcement officials disrupted this attempt to commit a terrorist attack against a Muslim community," said CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher. "White supremacy has been a violent threat to people of color and different faiths since the inception of our nation. Serious resources are needed to combat this growing threat.”
CAIR-NY cited a threat targeting a Maryland mosque, an arson attack on a California mosque, a bomb threat targeting Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, recent arrests in an alleged bomb plot targeting Muslims in New York, guilty pleas in the bombing of a Minnesota mosque, and sentencing of men in a plot to bomb Muslims in Kansas.
SEE: CAIR-San Diego Condemns Arson Attack on Escondido Mosque, Plans Interfaith Vigil
CAIR Welcomes Stepped-Up Security After Online Threat Targeting Maryland Mosque
CAIR-LA Condemns Bomb Threats Made on Event Featuring Rep. Ilhan Omar, Thanks LAPD
Militia Members Get Decades in Prison in Kansas Bomb Plot
http://www.startribune.com/3-militia-members-face-sentencing-in-kansas-bomb-plot/504848242/
CAIR Asks Feds to Charge Men Accused in Bomb Plot Targeting New York Muslim Community
Two Militia Men Plead Guilty to Bombing Minnesota Mosque
The Washington-based civil rights organization has witnessed an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president. CAIR has repeatedly expressed concern about Islamophobic, white supremacist and racist Trump administration policies and appointments.
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/
American Muslims, mosques and other Islamic institutions are being urged to take measures outlined in CAIR’s "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety" booklet. Advice offered in CAIR’s security publication is applicable to all institutions, regardless of organizational mission.
The booklet may be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/BestSafetyPractices
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR 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: CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; CAIR-NY Litigation Director Ahmed Mohamed, 646-481-2103, ahmedmohamed@cair.com