CAIR-NY Applauds Decision to Remove Confederate Name from Brooklyn Army Base, Rededicate It to Black Officer

1st Lieutenant John Earl Warren Jr. (November 16, 1946 – January 14, 1969). U.S. Army seal photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash

(NEW YORK, NY, 5/19/2022)—The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today expressed support for the United States Army’s decision to remove Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s name from the main avenue in its Fort Hamilton Army base in Brooklyn, N.Y., and rededicate the street to U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant John Earl Warren Jr., an African-American Brooklyn native and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient who died in combat after jumping on an enemy grenade in order to save the lives of his fellow soldiers.  

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CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said in a statement:    

“As advocates for civil rights and proud New Yorkers, we welcome the U.S. Army’s decision to remove Robert E. Lee’s name from Fort Hamilton and replace it with 1st Lieutenant John Earl Warren Jr.’s, whose unmatched patriotism compelled him to sacrifice his life for our country, despite the profound injustices that our country has perpetrated on his fellow Black Americans. The Army’s decision is reflective of a monumental shift in our collective understanding of America's past and a positive step in our continued struggle for racial justice.”   

SEE: How a National Movement Toppled Hundreds of Confederate Symbols  

She also noted that CAIR has repeatedly called for the removal of Confederate holidays, flags, statues, and symbols nationwide.   

SEE:  CAIR Welcomes Renaming of Formerly Confederate-Themed Virginia Middle School   

CAIR Reiterates Support for South Carolina Bill to End Confederate Memorial Day   

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, CAIR-NY, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; Ahmed Mohamed, CAIR-NY Legal Director, 646-481-2103, ahmedmohamed@cair.com

Press ReleasesCAIR-NYracism, Confederate, Robert E. Lee, 1st Lieutenant John Earl Warren Jr., U.S. Army, Fort Hamilton, Black Lives Matter