FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 5/7/18) -- The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned an apparently fake racist mayoral campaign mailer distributed to voters in Paterson, N.J.

That mailer included a number slurs targeting Muslims and other minority groups and has been repudiated by the alleged sponsor.

SEE: Racist Paterson Election Flyer Described as Fake Mail Piece

http://patersontimes.com/2018/05/06/racist-paterson-election-flyer-described-as-fake-mail-piece/

“Bigotry of any kind should have no place in our state or our nation,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues. “We condemn this clandestine attempt to spread hatred and division.”

Sues said community members are being urged to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/report     

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.

MEDIA ADVISORY

CAIR to Release Report Showing ‘Concrete Evidence’ That Trump’s Muslim Ban Resulted in Islamophobic Discrimination, Violence

(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 4/18/2018) – On Monday, April 23, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, will release a one-of-its-kind report showing “concrete evidence” that the Trump’s administration’s Muslim Ban resulted in increased anti-Muslim discrimination and violence nationwide in the past year.

CAIR’s 2018 civil rights report will outline hundreds of anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2017 and indicate how many were related to the Trump administration’s unconstitutional Muslim Ban executive orders. The new report, titled “Targeted,” will also document the increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents and hate crimes in 2017 over the previous year.

WHAT: CAIR New Jersey News Conference to Release 2018 Civil Rights Report

WHEN: Monday, April 23, 11 a.m.

WHERE: CAIR New Jersey’s Headquarters, 4475 S. Clinton Ave, South Plainfield, Suite 202, NJ 07080

CONTACT: CAIR New Jersey’s Executive Director, James Sues, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

“This administration’s targeting of the American Muslim community and of other minority communities is very clear and should shock the conscience of all Americans,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

He said the anti-Muslim hate incidents documented in CAIR’s report are an indictment of the Trump administration’s unconstitutional policies.

CAIR said it has witnessed an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.

New Jersey community members are being urged to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR New Jersey’s Civil Rights Department at 908-668-5900 or by filing a report at: http://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 New Jersey’s 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-NJ Condemns Racist Vandalism Targeting Campaign Poster in Newark

 (SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 4/2/2018) -- The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the racist vandalism of a campaign poster for Newark At-Large Councilman Luis Quintana. 

The poster, which hangs about a block away from the Councilman’s office, was defaced with a Nazi swastika painted over a picture of the councilman’s face.  

Newark Police are investigating the defaced campaign banner as a bias crime and released photos of a suspect wearing a hooded sweatshirt. The bias-motivated crime was apparently committed on Thursday. 

"The hate symbolized by this act of vandalism has no place in New Jersey and cannot be tolerated,” said James Sues, executive director of CAIR-NJ. “This painful reminder of the extreme divisiveness that characterizes the current political climate at the national level should prompt us to remain vigilant in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes as they occur.”

SEE: Vandal turns politician's face into 'symbol of hate' with swastika on campaign sign

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2018/04/newark_councilman_luis_quintana_campaign_poster_sw.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’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, 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, 11/8/2017) -- The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today congratulated Jerry Shi and Falguni Patel for their victories in the Edison school board election, and Ravi Bhalla, for his victory in the Hoboken mayoral race -- all of whom had been the victims of racist smear campaigns.

“The New Jersey voting public has spoken and has resoundingly said that they will not be influenced by divisive, racist smear tactics,” said James Sues, executive director of CAIR-NJ. “Despite the fear-mongering and bigotry that characterizes the current political climate at the national  level, the citizens of New Jersey have demonstrated that we are a welcoming community.”

On November 2, CAIR NJ decried the distribution of a racist mailer that had the heading “Make Edison Great Again,” and declared “The Chinese and Indians are Taking over our Town”.  The mailer was an effort to sway voters in the school board election in Edison, N.J., where one candidate, Falguni Patel, is of Indian descent and another Jerry Shi, is of Chinese descent. That mailer displayed pictures of the candidates with mock immigration stamps declaring “Deport” overlapping them.

On November 5, CAIR NJ decried the distribution of a racist flyer with the heading “Don’t let Terrorism Take Over Our Town,” with the picture of Sikh mayoral candidate, Ravi Bhalla.   Sikh men who wear beards and turbans as part of their faith are often targeted by bigots who mistake them for Muslims.