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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 11/5/2017) -- The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today 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.  

The flyer which was distributed on car windshields in Hoboken, NJ is an apparent effort to sway voters in an upcoming Mayoral election there.   The distribution of this flyer comes just 2 days after a racist postcard was mailed to voters in Edison, NJ targeting Asian School Board candidates with the slogan “Make Edison Great Again”.

"This is the second time we’ve seen this kind of divisive campaign rhetoric in this election cycle here in New Jersey.”, said James Sues, executive director of CAIR-NJ. “The repugnant racist tactics represented in these campaign materials do a disservice to the welcoming community that New Jersey truly is.  This is just a painful reminder of the extreme divisiveness that characterizes current political climate at the national level.”

 [NOTE: Sikh men who wear beards and turbans as part of their faith are often targeted by bigots who mistake them for Muslims.]

SEE: Fliers attack Sikh mayoral candidate, portraying him as a terrorist

http://pix11.com/2017/11/04/fliers-attack-sikh-mayoral-candidate-portraying-him-as-a-terrorist/

SEE: Racist 'Make Edison Great Again' mailer targets Asian school board candidates

http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2017/11/racist_campaign_posctards_being_mailed_in_edison.html 

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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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- NJ