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CAIR-NJ Calls for Resignation of Board of Education Member Who Shared Anti-Muslim, Racist Posts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 7/23/2019) -- The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today called for the resignation of Toms River Board of Education member Dan Leonard who shared racist and Islamophobic posts on his Facebook account.
Leonard, who chairs the “Safety, Security and Transportation Committee” of the Toms River Board of Education shared a post depicting an image of Freshman Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib with caption, “My life would be complete if she/they die. . .”
Other posts include an image of a bruised Barbie doll in a headscarf with the meme “Sharia Barbie, Comes with Jihab [sic], bruises, & Quran, Stoning accessories available for additional purchase.” and an image of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar with the comment, “Terrorist. . .100%.” [NOTE: “Jihab” is an apparent reference to the Islamic head scarf, or “hijab.”]
SEE ISLAMOPHOBIC POSTS: https://tinyurl.com/NJIslamophobicPosts
"The bigoted, hateful and threatening social media posts shared by this elected board of education official serve to disqualify him for any position that has responsibility for the safety, security and well-being of New Jersey’s diverse student body,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director James Sues. "The bigoted views expressed by Mr. Leonard have no place in an educational system that seeks to celebrate diversity and encourage students of all faiths and backgrounds to excel scholastically and to make positive contributions to our society. This is just a painful reminder of the extreme divisiveness that characterizes the current political climate at the national level.”
He noted that CAIR offers anti-bullying and bystander intervention workshops, as well as a free series of guides to explain relevant Muslim religious practices to employers, educators, healthcare providers, and law enforcement and correctional facility agents.
SEE: Guides to Muslim Religious Practices
https://www.cair.com/guides-to-muslim-religious-practices
The Washington-based civil rights organization 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.
SEE: CAIR-Colorado Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Vandalism Targeting Denver Church
https://www.cair.com/cair_colorado_calls_for_hate_crime_probe_of_vandalism_targeting_denver_church
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-NJ Action Alert: Tell NJ State Senate That Campus Opposition to Israel’s Human Rights Abuses Is Not Anti-Semitic
(South Plainfield, NJ 07/08/2019) - The New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced today its opposition to the falsely titled “Prohibits anti-Semitism in public schools and institutions of higher education.,” [S. 4001] which incorrectly conflates legitimate First Amendment protected discussion on American campuses about Israel’s human rights abuses against Palestinians with the vile bigotry of anti-Semitism.
SEE: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S4500/4001_I1.HTM
CAIR is also calling on all New Jersey residents to urge their State Senators to oppose and not co-sponsor the act.
ACT NOW: EMAIL YOUR STATE SENATOR: https://www.votervoice.net/CAIR/campaigns/67363/respond
CAIR-NJ joins the following organizations in raising serious free speech concerns about New Jersey Senate Bill 4001:
- Jewish Voice for Peace of Northern NJ
- American Muslims for Palestine of NJ
- Palestinian American Community Center
- Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
- Labor for Palestine
- Jewish Voice for Peace, Central New Jersey
- Al-Awda NY: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
- SOMA for Palestine (South Orange-Maplewood)
- The Muslim Network
“The falsely-titled Prohibits anti-Semitism in public schools and institutions of higher education would only create confusion between what are real and punishable anti-Semitic hate crimes and the protected free speech rights of American students and faculty members,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director, Jim Sues.
Sues added: “It is not anti-Semitic to criticize the Apartheid-like policies of a foreign government or for Americans to engage in the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.”
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 Jim Sues, 908-668-5900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw, 202-742-6448,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
CAIR-NJ Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Assault Targeting Latina Mom by School Bully Who Threatened Son
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
“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.
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..
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