Muslim civil rights group will call for apology, invitation to White House for mayor, discussion of ‘tangible harms that watchlists have caused’
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 05/02/2023) — Later today, the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) will hold a news conference with Muslim community leaders in South Plainfield, N.J., to respond to the Secret Service’s “sudden and baseless” revocation of Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah’s White House Eid event invitation due to “perceived profiling.”
Mayor Khairullah is expected to join CAIR-NJ and the community leaders at the news conference.
While Anthony Guglielmi, chief of communications for the U.S. Secret Service, reportedly said that they are unable to offer comment on their “specific protective means and methods,” CAIR-NJ is concerned that the mayor’s invitation was revoked due to his status on the illegal government watchlist leaked to CAIR.
SEE: CNN Interviews NJ Mayor Mohamed T. Khairullah About Being Barred from White House Eid Event
At the news conference, CAIR-NJ plans to call on the Biden administration to apologize to Mayor Khairullah and invite him to the White House, to meet with members of the Muslim community to discuss the tangible harms that watchlists have caused and continue to cause, and, ultimately, to disband such watchlists.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 2, 2 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR-NJ Office, 4475 S. Clinton Ave, South Plainfield, N.J., Suite #202
CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Dina Sayedahmed, 551-221-5592, dsayedahmed@cair.com
LIVESTREAM LINK: https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNewJersey/
BACKGROUNDER:
SEE: Muslim Mayor Says Being Denied Entry to WH Event “Reeks of Islamophobia” (Axios)
SEE: Muslim Mayor Blocked from White House Eid Celebration (AP)
SEE: Muslim Mayor Abruptly Disinvited from White House Eid al-Fitr Celebration
Mayor Khairullah was previously stopped and interrogated at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York for three hours and questioned about whether he knew any terrorists. He was also forced to hand over his phone in the same incident.
Khairullah had helped the New Jersey Democratic Party compile names of local Muslim leadership to invite to the White House’s Eid celebration. He is believed to be the longest-serving Muslim mayor in New Jersey and was sworn into his fifth consecutive mayoral term in January.
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 Dina Sayedahmed, dsayedahmed@cair.com, 551-221-5592; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
