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CAIR-NJ Action Alert: Stand Up for Free Speech, Demand Reinstatement of ‘P is for Palestine’ Event at Highland Park, NJ, Public Library
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 5/22/2019) -- The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today asked New Jersey residents to stand up for free speech and call on the Highland Park Public Library to immediately reinstate the planned “P is for Palestine: A Palestine ABC Book” event with author Dr. Golbarg Bashi.
Take Action: Sign the petition to reinstate the event
The Highland Park, New Jersey, Public Library canceled its previously-scheduled reading of the children’s alphabet book, “P is for Palestine,” by Dr. Golbarg Bashi, which was sponsored by the library and Jewish Voice Peace-Central NJ. The book is “the world's first-ever English-language ABC story book about Palestine.”
SEE: Library reconsiders ‘P is for Palestine’ kids book reading after backlash from public
The pretext for this censorship is that the book's entry “I is for Intifada” is “hate speech” that promotes “violence and terror” against Jews. Intifada actually means “rebellion” or “resistance” in Arabic.
SEE: 'P is for Palestine' event in Highland Park shelved . . . for now
Co-Sponsors of the petition:
- • CAIR-NJ
- • Al-Awda NY: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
- • American Muslims for Palestine
- • Occupy Bergen County
- • Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
- • Labor for Palestine
- • People's Organization for Progress
- • Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
- • SOMA for Palestine
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-NJ Executive Director James Sues, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
CAIR New Jersey Urges Muslim Communities to Step Up Security During Upcoming Ramadan Fast
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR New Jersey Urges Muslim Communities to Step Up Security During Upcoming Ramadan Fast
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., 4/30/19) – The New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is urging Muslim communities in New Jersey to step up security during the month-long fast of Ramadan (rom-a-don) that begins on or about May 6.*
[*NOTE: Because the beginning of Islamic lunar months depends on the actual sighting of the new moon, the start and end dates for Ramadan may vary. Consult local Muslim communities for the beginning and end dates of Ramadan. The end of Ramadan will be marked by communal prayers called “Eid ul-Fitr,” (eed-al-fitter) or Feast of the Fast-Breaking on or about June 4.]
Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from before dawn to sunset. The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity, while obeying God’s commandments. Fasting (along with the declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the “five pillars” of Islam.
Because many mosques hold special prayers and other activities during Ramadan, and because of recent anti-Muslim incidents in this country and overseas, CAIR is urging American Muslim leaders and Islamic institutions to take extra security precautions throughout the month.
CAIR New Jersey is urging mosques and other Islamic institutions to take measures outlined in its "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://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cairhq/pages/15191/attachments/original/1523597950/CAIR_Mosque_Safety_Guide.pdf?1523597950
Last week, CAIR expressed solidarity with the Jewish community in the San Diego-area and nationwide within hours of a deadly shooting at a synagogue near that city.
SEE: CAIR Expresses Solidarity with Jewish Community After Deadly San Diego Synagogue Attack
An open letter, posted online purportedly by the suspect in that attack, claims that he committed the arson attack last month on a mosque near Escondido, CA and was inspired by the New Zealand mosque shooter. The open letter expressed a desire to defend the ‘European race’ and numerous anti-Semitic racial slurs and tropes targeting African Americans, Latinos, Arabs and Muslims.
CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.
CAIR 2018 Civil Rights Report: Targeted
http://www.islamophobia.org/reports/224-2018-civil-rights-report-targeted.html
CAIR: Anti-Muslim Assaults Have Tripled Since a Decade Ago, FBI Stats Show
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/odd-fbi-case-highlights-impact-anti-muslim-bias/story?id=61761006
Community members are being urged to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-NJ's Civil Rights Department at 908-668-5900 or by filing a report at: https://nj.cair.com/your-rights/report-an-incident.html
CAIR launched an app to share critical “know your rights” information and to simplify the process to report hate crimes and bias incidents. CAIR is urging American Muslims and members of other minority groups to download the app and utilize this resource to stay informed and empowered.
For a quick download of CAIR’s civil rights app, click here: http://www.cair.com/app
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-NJ Executive Director James Sues, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CAIR-New Jersey Joins Wayne Mayor in Condemning Bigoted Flyer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., 3/27/2019) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-New Jersey) today joined Wayne Mayor Christopher P. Vergano in condemning an Islamophobic flyer that was circulated in the neighborhood where a sign had been posted on the front of a house that was written in Arabic.
The sign was posted on a house which had just been purchased by a Muslim family. The Arabic translates as “What God has willed. God bless.”
The flyer calls for a meeting “to discuss the ‘unAmerican’ building”, and asks for neighbors to “please ‘Fly our Flag’ proudly and attend the meeting.”
Mayor Vergano intends to join the meeting to be held today, to remind the citizens in attendance that Wayne is an inclusive community and divisive bigotry won’t be tolerated.
“To suggest that a sign written in a foreign language is un-American is in itself un-American”, said CAIR-NJ Executive Director, James Sues. “The fact that the Arabic language posted in public would cause this kind of reaction is symptomatic of the Islamophobia that grips this country today. We applaud Mayor Vergano for meeting with members of the Muslim community and taking a stand against bigotry.”
He noted that CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.
In a published report, CAIR noted a 17 percent increase in bias-motivated incidents and a 15 percent increase in hate crimes against American Muslims since Trump took office.
SEE: 2018 Civil Rights Report: Targeted
http://www.islamophobia.org/reports/224-2018-civil-rights-report-targeted.html
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.
END
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CAIR-NJ Condemns Terror Attack on New Zealand Mosques, Urges Stepped-Up Security by Muslim Communities in U.S., Worldwide
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CAIR-NJ Condemns Terror Attack on New Zealand Mosques, Urges Stepped-Up Security by Muslim Communities in U.S., Worldwide
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – 3/15/2019) - The New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), today mourned the deaths of more than 40 worshipers gunned down in terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, during prayers on Friday, condemned the apparent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hate that motivated the attacks and urged mosques in the United States and worldwide to step up security measures.
A man who claimed responsibility for the attacks left a 74-page anti-immigrant manifesto in which he said he was a 28-year-old white Australian and a racist. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the attack was carried out "by an extremist right-wing violent terrorist” and media reports indicate that the manifesto posted before the attack includes anti-Muslim rhetoric.
The white supremacist author of the manifesto called himself a supporter of President Donald Trump, who he sees “as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.”
Authorities have detained four people and defused explosive devices following what appeared to be a carefully-planned terror attack.
SEE: Christchurch shootings at two mosques leave 49 dead, Australian arrested in relation to terror attack
40 Killed in New Zealand Mosque Shootings; 4 Held
https://www.apnews.com/ce9e1d267af149dab40e3e5391254530
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“To God we belong, and to Him is our return. We mourn the heartbreaking killings of men, women and children gathered for prayer in their houses of worship and urge leaders in our nation and worldwide to speak out forcefully against the growing anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hate that appears to have motivated these white supremacist terrorists. In the wake of this tragedy, we urge mosques, Islamic schools and other community institutions in the United States and around the world to take stepped-up security precautions, particularly during times of communal prayer.”
Video of the attacks has been posted online. CAIR is asking that the video not be shared.
“Instead of spreading the hate-filled message of terrorists, we should share messages of love and solidarity with the loved ones of those killed or injured in the attacks,” said Awad.
Awad urged President Trump to speak out against the attacks and the white supremacist motive of the terrorists.
CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president and has repeatedly expressed concern about Islamophobic, white supremacist and racist Trump administration policies and appointments.
SEE: CAIR Says Trump’s Islamophobic ‘Prayer Rug’ Tweet Designed to Distract from Latest Legal Problems
The Washington-based civil rights organization is urging mosques and other Islamic institutions to take measures outlined in its "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety" booklet. The advice 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.
END
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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