On April 28, CAIR-Cleveland’s Executive Director joined some 30 national leaders of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, in attending the inauguration of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama.
The facility is “the nation’s first memorial dedicated to the legacy of enslaved black people, people terrorized by lynching, African Americans humiliated by racial segregation and Jim Crow, and people of color burdened with contemporary presumptions of guilt and police violence.”
SEE: This New Lynching Memorial Rewrites American History (CNN)
The National Memorial for Peace and Justice
“It is critically important that American Muslim leaders and activists learn about the legacy of those who suffered under brutal slavery and segregation for hundreds of years, who fought for basic dignity and human rights, and made the civil rights movement a reality,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad, who attended the memorial’s inauguration.
CAIR national and chapter leaders also visited Montgomery, Selma and Birmingham as part of a three-day civil rights educational tour.
The Washington-based civil rights organization said it has witnessed an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.
Community members are being urged to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR’s National Civil Rights Department at 202.742.6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/report. Complaints can also be made to the local Cleveland Chapter by calling 216.830.2247.
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 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.