CAIR-NJ Encourages Muslims to Vote on Election Day

(Newark, NJ, 11/05/2024) — The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today encouraged Muslims to exercise their right to vote on Election Day.

The Vote for Justice campaign by CAIR-NJ provides New Jersey’s Muslim community with essential resources, including details on early voting, mail-in ballots, key election dates, and CAIR-NJ’s Congressional Scorecard. This initiative aims to support informed voting and promote civic engagement amongst American-Muslims.

See: Vote for Justice Campaign and Voting Information

See: CAIR-NJ Congressional Scorecard

Election Day: Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Polling Hours: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Vote-by-Mail: Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by Election Day or dropped off at designated drop boxes before polls close.

“We commend the unwavering dedication of our community members who have already cast their votes and shown up for our shared future,” said CAIR-NJ’s Executive Director Selaedin Maksut,“But our work isn’t finished. We understand the frustration many feel as we witness injustices globally and domestically, and as a community, we are a powerful force when we stand united at the polls.”

“Our vote are our voice, and each ballot cast is a step toward the representation, justice, and positive change we seek. From school boards to Congress, these elections shape policies that impact our daily lives and the causes we care deeply about. Let’s show up for justice, for our values, and for a brighter future for us all.”

To find polling locations, or access voting FAQs, visit CAIR-NJ’s Vote for Justice page here.

CAIR’s mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut,  Smaksut@cair.com, 862-264-9414

The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today called on law enforcement authorities to investigate alleged harassment and violent threats reportedly targeting The Baklava Lady, a small café in Englishtown known for its stance promoting peace and voicing support for Palestinian human rights.

The café has reportedly been targeted with pro-genocide hostility, which has escalated dramatically in the past year.

Most disturbingly, the café allegedly received a threatening phone call in which an individual explicitly threatened violence against the owner and her family. This reported phone threat marked a new level of danger, intensifying the already mounting pressure from local pro-genocide groups protesting outside the café and harassing the business.

CAIR-NJ is urging the Englishtown Police Department to take immediate action to ensure the café’s security, as well as for charges to be brought against the alleged perpetrators.

Selaedin Maksut, Executive Director of CAIR-NJ, condemned the threats, stating:

“No one should live in fear for standing up for justice and peace. The threats against Baklava Lady and their family are part of a larger pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing voices who speak out against the genocide in Palestine.” 

“Our CAIR-NJ office is calling on the local elected officials of Englishtown to publicly condemn these acts of hate and intimidation, especially the threat of violence made against the cafe. The community must unite against such vile speech and behavior, and local authorities must ensure the safety of this family and their business. Harassment and violence have no place in our communities. 

“Together, we can ensure that their small business thrives and that the voices of peace are not silenced by hate.”

CAIR-NJ is also calling on Englishtown’s elected officials to publicly denounce the hatful protests and the violent threat made over the phone, stressing the importance of unity against such bigoted behavior.

From January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming bias complaints nationwide, a 69 percent increase over the same period in 2023.

SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remain Elevated in First Half of 2024 

Earlier this year, CAIR’s national office released its 2024 civil rights report, which revealed the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history. Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documented 8,061 complaints.

Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.

BACKGROUNDER:

The Baklava Lady’s public stance against the genocide in Palestine, regularly voiced through social media and public displays, has sparked outrage among some members of the pro-genocide community in Englishtown and nearby towns. During the café’s five-year anniversary celebration, a sign reading, “We only serve those who believe in peace for all. Free Palestine. Hands off Lebanon. Real food. Real values,” further fueled this backlash.

The café’s owners have expressed grave concerns about their safety and that of their loved ones, saying: “We are worried that someone might throw a brick through the window or worse. They’ve even doxxed us, putting our personal information online.”

“We need security, that is the first and most important thing. We’re grateful for the overwhelming support, but we also need help with volunteers, legal assistance, and financial backing to keep our café safe and running.”

For those interested in supporting The Baklava Lady and her family, please contact CAIR-NJ to volunteer or provide further assistance.

CAIR’s mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director, Selaedin Maksut, 862-264-9414, smaksut@cair.com

CAIR-NJ Condemns Racist Anti-Palestinian Flyers Distribute at Princeton University, Calls on University to take Disciplinary Action

(NEWARK, NJ, 9/10/2024) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today condemned racist anti-Palestinian flyers distributed on the campus of Princeton University reading “Nuke Gaza” and “Kill Roaches.” CAIR-NJ also welcomed the University’s investigation and called for disciplinary action against those found responsible for the flyers.

The Department of Public Safety (PSAFE) is reportedly investigating the distribution of the flyers as a bias incident.

“Anti-Palestinian racism is a direct reaction to the growing movement nationwide, and particularly on college campuses, rejecting the far-right Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza,” said CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut. “Those who back this genocide and reject Palestinian humanity are a shrinking minority that is desperate to silence anti-genocide voices.”

He added: “Seeing these flyers on a college campus is extremely troubling. We expect the University to take swift action against those found responsible. The Muslim and Arab students must feel reassured that their safety is a top priority for the university.”

He noted that last month, CAIR-NJ announced that complaints of discrimination, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate saw a significant surge during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2023.

From January to June 2024, CAIR-NJ documented a total of 186 complaints, a 118% increase over the same period in 2023. Many of those complaints consisted of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian bias and discrimination at school settings and the workplace.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut, smaksut@cair.com, 908-267-3119; CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, aelamroussi@cair.com, 551-208-5482

CAIR-NJ Supports Response to Anti-Muslim Quiz at Wayne School, Calls for Diversity Training

(NEWARK, NJ, 6/25/2024) – The New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today welcomed the swift response from school administrators in Wayne, where middle school students were given a quiz containing questions stemming from anti-Muslim bias.

CAIR-NJ also called on administrators to implement meaningful and appropriate trainings to educate faculty and teachers about Islam and Muslims in America.

Late last week, CAIR-NJ received complaints from parents whose children in grade 7 at Schuyler-Colfax Middle School in Wayne, New Jersey, were asked to take a multiple-choice Social Studies quiz containing questions and answers that were anti-Muslim in nature and implications.

One of the anti-Muslim questions asked 7th grade students about the definition of the “Islamic State” and included the “Palestinian Liberation Organization” as a choice to that question.

In a statement, Wayne Township Public Schools Superintendent Mark Toback apologized for the question, saying it was “unacceptable and [does] not reflect the standards we uphold for our educational community.”

“The question was offensive and contrary to our values of respect, inclusivity, and cultural sensitivity,” Toback said. “We understand the deep concern and disappointment this has caused among students, parents, and the broader community.”

Wayne Township Public Schools district officials met with CAIR-NJ and the Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC) leadership on June 21 to discuss why the quiz was littered with anti-Muslim bias and next steps on how to prevent this matter from happening again.

Such questions presented in a formal school setting absent the appropriate historical context have the potential to perpetuate bigoted and anti-Muslim rhetoric while also fueling negative stereotypes of Muslims. Muslims, like any other group, deserve to attend school without feeling fearful of such insinuations and macro-aggressions.

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut welcomed the school district’s response and called on leadership to implement trainings aimed at educating staff about Islam and Muslims.

“Our CAIR-NJ office has been in close communication with the Wayne Township Public Schools district, and we look forward to continuing our dialogue to address this issue. Most importantly, we’ll be working to help Wayne administrators provide staff the tools they need to cultivate a more inclusive and understanding environment for Muslim students in Wayne. 

“We value the district’s commitment to growth. Now, we hope to see administrators take tangible action by implementing more careful and precise diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings to all staff, especially teachers who shape our nation’s young minds.” 

Earlier this year, CAIR released new civil rights data showing that it has received 3,578 complaints during the last three months of 2023 amid an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate.

SEE: 2024 Civil Rights Report: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate  

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Interim Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, aelamroussi@cair.com, 551-208-5482

CAIR-NJ Commends Efforts to Investigate East Brunswick High School Yearbook Incident, Calls on Mayor to Apologize

Newark, NJ (6/20/2024) — The New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today welcomed the findings of the investigation into the yearbook incident at East Brunswick High School in which a photo of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) was erroneously used in place of a photo of a Jewish student group. CAIR-NJ today also called on the township’s mayor to apologize for publicly releasing a harmful and presumptuous statement on the sensitive matter prior to the probe’s conclusion.

The East Brunswick Public Schools district hired an independent law firm to investigate how a photo of members of the MSA replaced a photo of the high school’s Jewish Student Union group in the yearbook. The probe followed swift backlash to the incident, which resulted in hateful comments both online and in-person directed toward the Muslim students pictured after a photo of the misplacement was posted on social media.

SEE: CAIR-NJ Demands ‘Transparent and Fair’ Probe of East Brunswick High School Yearbook Photo Incident

On Wednesday, the East Brunswick Public Schools district released the findings of its investigation, concluding the photo error “was not purposeful, but rather was a highly unfortunate error,” it said in a press release Wednesday, citing the probe report.

The probe, conducted by attorney Yaacov Brisman of Brisman Law, determined the lead yearbook advisor mistakenly placed the incorrect photo herself.

“I find that the Lead Advisor was at best careless, but her actions can also be considered negligent. She should have exercised greater attention to detail when selecting the photograph,” the attorney wrote in the report.

Earlier this month, East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohn described the production error as a “blatant Anti-Semitic act” and questioned whether the incident was a “hate crime,” implying the mistake was intentional. The mayor’s one-sided and flagrant statement remained posted on his Facebook page as of Thursday afternoon.

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Interim Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi said:

“CAIR-NJ commends the efforts to investigate the yearbook error and the release of the independent investigation’s findings. The probe’s conclusion affirms what CAIR-NJ already knew: the Muslim Students Association played no part in this incident nor did it have knowledge of the error prior to the yearbooks publications.

CAIR-NJ condemns the mayor’s inciteful statement, which many in the Muslim community felt it was partially responsible for fueling the backlash Muslim students faced in the aftermath of a mistake they played no part in.

It’s shameful for an elected official to jump to conclusions on such a sensitive issue, particularly during the ongoing tensions in our social climate. At a time when it is easy to be divisive, leaders should always be pushing for unity and understanding— not unfounded hostility toward Muslim students.”

Here’s what else the investigation found, per the report:

“[The Lead Advisor] admittedly only ‘assumed’ it was the correct photograph. The photograph clearly has a number of students who are identifiably Muslim. Even accounting for diversity among students, this should have triggered greater awareness.

“Moreover, as an experienced educator, in light of domestic and international events, [the Lead Advisor] should have had a heightened sense of awareness and sensitivity surrounding students of Jewish ethnicity and/or faith. This sensitivity also holds true for students of the Muslim faith who were clearly identifiable by their dress and who were also mislabeled.”

“I found [her] credible, and I have no basis to find that she acted out of any animus, racial, religious, or political, towards Jewish or Muslim students.”

CAIR-NJ applauds and supports the investigator’s recommendation to implement more thorough review measures, including rolling out formalized training sessions for yearbook advisors, administration review before official publication and add an additional advisor to help facilitate the process.

Washington, D.C., based CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Interim Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com

CAIR-NJ Demands ‘Transparent and Fair’ Probe of East Brunswick High School Yearbook Photo Incident

(NEWARK, N.J. (6/6/2024) – The New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today demanded a transparent and fair investigation into an incident at East Brunswick High School in which a yearbook photo of apparently Muslim students was used to show members of a Jewish school club.

A photo of the yearbook page has gone viral online, triggering anti-Muslim bigotry targeting the students pictured. CAIR-NJ has seen hateful comments on social media, including some that called the students terrorists and that they should be deported.

East Brunswick Superintendent Dr. Victor Valeski apologized to the Muslim parents and students: “As I mentioned impacts to our Jewish students and families earlier today, I want to offer sincere apologies to our Muslim students and families, as well.  I am aware that the picture placed in the yearbook has caused pain for our Muslim students and for that I am deeply sorry.”

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi said:

“It is crucial that school officials ensure their investigation is transparent, fair and thorough so those responsible are held accountable. This incident has triggered heinous backlash against the Muslim students pictured whom CAIR-NJ believes had no knowledge of their photo being misused.

“The hateful comments attacking Muslim high school students are deplorable. We call on East Brunswick’s mayor and public schools superintendent to offer support to their Muslim student community and be leaders for the entire township.” 

East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen one-sided statement posted June 4 on his Facebook account does not mention nor address the distressful impact this has had on Muslim community members who are equally a part of his constituency.”

Washington, D.C., based CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com 

CAIR-NJ Applauds American Muslim Participation in NJ Primaries, Notes 40,000+ Votes for Ceasefire in Palestine

NEWARK, N.J. (6/5/2024) The New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) applauds the thousands of American Muslim voters who participated in the state’s primary election on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

As of Wednesday, 90% of the votes have been counted. So far, the results show the uncommitted choice on the ballot received more than 40,000 votes.
CAIR-NJ worked to galvanize Muslim Americans through voter outreach efforts to increase the community’s civic engagement throughout the state of New Jersey.

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Advocacy Coordinator Mousa Naji said:

“Voting is an essential part of our democracy. It is necessary for citizens to exercise their right to vote as a means of expression and to shape the world to be a better place.

“More than 40,000 New Jerseyans took the opportunity to vote uncommitted, making it clear the genocide in Palestine must end. Collectively, they expressed their demand for a ceasefire and for the US to stop sending weapons that have been fueling Israel’s bombardment of Palestine.”

In a statement, CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut also welcomed the voter turn-out Tuesday, saying it was a crucial part of CAIR-NJ’s mission to get as many Muslim Americans to the polls as possible.

“New Jersey’s Muslim community cares deeply about Palestine. Many have family and friends impacted by Israel’s war on Gaza. We expect that it will continue to be an important issue for voters as November approaches,” Maksut said.

“CAIR-NJ will continue to educate the public about the electoral process, key policy issues, and encourage civic participation for larger future turn outs. It’s crucial to continue this momentum into the general election to ensure our voices are heard.”

CAIR-NJ is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization and does not participate in political candidate endorsements. However, the chapter has urged eligible voters to hit the polls to make their voices heard through choosing a candidate that best aligns with their values and views.

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Senior Communications Associate Aya Elamroussi, 551-208-5482, aelamroussi@cair.com

CAIR-NJ Encourages Muslim Community to Vote Early for Primary Election

(NEWARK, NJ, 5/31/2024) The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) is urging Muslims across the state to vote in the Primary Election on or before June 4, 2024.

Registered voters have the option to participate in the election process today and throughout the weekend as well as on Election Day on Tuesday.

In-person early voting: May 29 – June 2
Primary Election Day: June 4
Election Day Poll Hours: 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.

SEE: A list of poll locations near you

With early voting already underway, New Jersey voters may cast their ballots for several key seats at the federal, state and local levels. In addition to the presidential election, the US Senate, US House of Representatives, State Senate as well as local races in some cities and counties are on the ballot.

“It is crucial for members of our Muslim community to practice their civic duty in this Primary Election as we witness the abhorrent and deadly violence unfolding in Gaza and across Palestine,” CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut said. “Voting is just one tool we can use to mark our presence in the political arena.”

New Jersey operates a closed primary system, meaning voters must be affiliated with a political party to be eligible to participate in that party’s primary election. People who are not affiliated with either of the two major parties may still vote in down ballot nonpartisan races such as local boards of education.

“Our voices matter now more than ever as hate crimes against Muslims in the U.S. have skyrocketed in recent months,” said CAIR-NJ Senior Communications Associate Aya Elamroussi. “By making our votes count in this election, we can choose candidates whose policies advance human rights here in the Garden State and abroad.”

CAIR-NJ is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that does not participate in political candidate endorsements. However, the chapter is urging eligible voters to hit the polls to make their voices heard through choosing a candidate that best aligns with their values and views.

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.

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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Senior Communications Associate Aya Elamroussi, 908-668-5900 ext. 103, aelamroussi@cair.com