(CLEVELAND, OH, 5/6/15) – On Sunday May 3, more than 400 people turned out for the 13th Annual Civil Rights Banquet of the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), with the theme “Rooted in Faith: Growing Through Service,” at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Independence.

The event honored Lassana Bathily, the Malian Muslim who was recently declared a French National Hero for saving customers in the Hyper Cacher Kosher grocery store in Paris during terrorist attacks in January. Bathily received the I-CAIR Courage and Honor Award at the banquet.
See: Man Honored for Heroics During Paris Attacks

See: Hero Honored in Cleveland After Terrorist Attack

Banquet speakers included Dr. Hatem Bazian from the University of California at Berkeley, who spoke on the themes of Islamophobia and race, and Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, Outreach Director of the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Virginia, who spoke on the need for Muslims to organize to defend civil rights.

Event proceeds will fund CAIR-Cleveland’s civil rights advocacy, educational outreach, and other community programs.

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.

To learn more about CAIR, go to: http://www.cair.com or http://ohio.cair.com