FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., 6/26/2019) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today called for a hate crime investigation of an incident in which the mother of a student at Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy School No. 20 was brutally beaten after complaining to a school vice principal about three students who threatened her son and told him “to go back to Mexico.”

On June 19, Beronica Ruiz, 35, was attacked as she pushed a stroller with her 1-year-old baby inside and her 12-year-old son walking with her. The woman was hospitalized for two days after a 13-year-old student – one of three who had been taunting her son, attacked her.

SEE: N.J. mom beaten unconscious by school bully who threatened her son in hate crime, lawyer says

https://www.nj.com/news/2019/06/nj-mom-beaten-unconscious-by-school-bully-who-threatened-her-son-in-hate-crime-lawyer-says.html

“Hateful acts of violence such as those allegedly carried out in Passaic must not be tolerated,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues. “We expect local law enforcement to conduct a full investigation and determine the appropriate action. The apparently woeful neglect exhibited by the school administration also warrants a full investigation by the New Jersey Department of Education. Unfortunately, we are once again reminded of the poisonous political atmosphere that divides this country along religious and ethnic lines.”

Sues said 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.

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. 

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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.

(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

https://www.nj.com/middlesex/2019/05/library-reconsiders-p-is-for-palestine-kids-book-reading-after-backlash-from-public.html

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

https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/2019/05/20/p-palestine-storytime-highland-park-nj-shelved-now/3744018002/

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..

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

https://www.cair.com/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.