Opinion Editorials, January 2015

CAIR to Announce Lawsuit Over Harassment of California Muslim Prison Guard Suit says California Department of Corrections failed to protect guard from severe harassment and retaliation

(SACRAMENTO, CA, 1/3/15) -

Suit says California Department of Corrections failed to protect guard from severe harassment and retaliation

On Monday, January 5, the Sacramento Valley office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SV) will hold a news conference in Sacramento to announce the filing of a lawsuit against the state of California and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

The lawsuit asserts that the CDCR failed to properly protect a Muslim prison guard from years of severe and pervasive harassment by his coworkers based on his religion, race, and national origin, or from retaliation for reporting the harassment. Despite multiple complaints to both internal and outside agencies, the harassment was allowed to continue and caused the plaintiff extreme physical and emotionaldistress.

WHAT: Announcement of a Lawsuit Against the State of California and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
WHO: CAIR-SV Representatives and the Plaintiff
WHEN: Monday, January 5, 10 a.m. (Pacific)
WHERE: CAIR-SV Office, 717 K Street, Suite 217, Sacramento, CA
CONTACT: CAIR-SV Programs and Development Coordinator Maheen Ahmed, 916.441.6269, mahmed@sacval.cair.com

"While we understand most work environments come with some level of joking and personal banter, employers must protect employees who are subjected to severe and pervasive harassment by their coworkers," said Brice Hamack, CAIR-California's northern California civil rights coordinator. "The state of California and the CDCR violated the civil rights of one of their guards when they failed to protect him from harassment based on his religion, race, and national origin, as well as from retaliation for seeking protection against such harassment."

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.

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• Video: CAIR in the News, December 2014
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  CAIR-Sacramento has sued the government on behalf of a former Navy enlisted man from Northern California who says he was the target of ethnic slurs, was reassigned to a menial job, and was later denied re-enlistment after seeking permission to wear a beard for religious reasons.
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• 2014 Top Stories: CAIR-MI Filed DOJ Complaint Seeking Probe of Police Actions
• Photo: CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Committee Members March for Social Justice
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  • CAIR Islamophobia Monitor: ACT for America
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  "Blackwell added: 'And since I was in my Navy dress blues, I thought he was possibly a Muslim extremist and wasn't sure what he was capable of. As he got closer to me, I gave him a couple of jabs and hit him in the mouth.'"
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CAIR Joins Maryland Faith Leaders in Condemning Hate Graffiti

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/29/14) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined Maryland faith leaders in condemning hateful graffiti spray-painted in a Montgomery County neighborhood over the holiday weekend.

Nazi swastikas, slurs and profanity were painted over holiday decorations and gifts left outdoors in several neighborhoods in Kensington, Md.

SEE: Swastikas, Slurs, Profanity Painted in Kensington Neighborhood

CAIR called on law enforcement authorities to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime and to bring those responsible to justice.

"Religious holidays of any faith are a sacred time," said CAIR Maryland Outreach Manager Zainab Chaudry. "We join with leaders of all faiths and backgrounds in repudiating the intolerance that can lead to such incidents."

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 301-279-8000.

Last week, CAIR expressed the Muslim community's solidarity with Massachusetts Christians following the possibly bias-motivated vandalism of a church nativity scene in which a statue of the baby Jesus was replaced with a severed pig's head.

SEE: CAIR Stands with Mass. Christians After Statue of Jesus Replaced with Pig's Head

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.

CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Outreach Manager Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

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• Video: CAIR Rep Discusses Michael Brown Case on Voice of America Urdu
  • CAIR: Outrage About Grand Jury Decision Grows (Philadelphia Tribune)
    
    The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, questioned the "problematic" grand jury process.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR-MN Welcomes Resignation of GOP Official Who Made Anti-Muslim Comments

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 11/28/14) -- The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today welcomed the resignation of Big Stone County GOP Chair Jack Whitley who posted comments on his Facebook page calling Muslims "parasites" and advocating "frag em" in Mecca. ("Frag" refers to a fragmentation grenade, a type of hand grenade. Whitley has since taken down his Facebook page.)

Whitley, who was also fired from his hardware store job, told the Associated Press that he was asked to resign by other Republicans. His resignation is effective today. He would not say whether he still believes the derogatory comments he wrote about Muslims.

SEE: County GOP Official Resigns After Anti-Muslim Remarks (AP)

"We welcome Mr. Whitley's resignation and hope he accepts the offer to meet with members of the Minnesota Muslim community and to learn more about Islam," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Lori Saroya. "It has been our experience that learning about Islam and interacting with ordinary American Muslims helps decrease prejudice and stereotyping."

CAIR-MN had previously invited Whitley to meet with Minnesota Muslims to engage in dialogue and to promote mutual understanding.

Earlier this week, CAIR-MN expressed appreciation for the outpouring of support from political leaders and ordinary Minnesotans who joined that state's Muslim community in repudiating Whitley's Islamophobic comments.

SEE: CAIR-MN Welcomes 'Outpouring of Support' Following GOP Chair's Anti-Muslim Comments

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.

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CAIR-MN Executive Director Lori Saroya, 612-327-6700, lsaroya@cair.com;

Council on American-Islamic Relations 453 New Jersey Ave, S.E., Washington, D.C., 20003 Council on American-Islamic Relations Copyright © 2014. All rights reserved.

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. -

CONTACT:

CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Ojaala Ahmad, 714-851-4851, oahmad@cair.com;

CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

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editor@aljazeerah.info & editor@ccun.org