CAIR-Cleveland & Northern Ohio

Our News

  • CAIR Seeks Hate Crime Charges for Threats to Ohio Muslims on Islamic Holiday

    CAIR Seeks Hate Crime Charges for Threats to Ohio Muslims on Islamic Holiday

    (WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/24/15) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to consider bringing hate crime charges against a man arrested after allegedly threatening Muslim worshipers this morning at an prayer service in Ohio.

    According to police, a man threatened worshipers gathered for the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha at the Islamic Center of Cleveland in Parma, Ohio. The man reportedly called the worshipers “terrorists” and reached for something in his car. Police later discovered he had a hatchet under his car seat. The suspect is in custody and is expected to appear in court on Friday.

    (more…)

  • CAIR-Cleveland Joins Civil Rights Groups in Release of Open Letter on Community Police Commission

    CAIR-Cleveland Joins Civil Rights Groups in Release of Open Letter on Community Police Commission

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 8/28/15) – The Cleveland branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Collaborative for a Safe, Fair and Just Cleveland, and the Cleveland chapter of the National Lawyers Guild today released an open letter outlining issues that must be resolved to better ensure that the Community Police Commission may operate more effectively and inclusively once established.

    [NOTE: The Cleveland chapter of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) is a founding member of the Collaborative for a Safe, Fair and Just Cleveland.]

    (more…)

  • Video: Cleveland 8 Reject Abuse of Grand Jury in Case of Tamir Rice Shooting by Cleveland Police

    Video: Cleveland 8 Reject Abuse of Grand Jury in Case of Tamir Rice Shooting by Cleveland Police

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 7/8/2015) – Today The Cleveland 8, a group of clergy and community activists, released a video and open letter criticizing the abuse of the grand jury process in the Tamir Rice shooting by Cleveland Police.

    The open letter condemns the disregard by municipal and county prosecutors of Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Ronald Adrine’s June 11 ruling of probable cause in the death of Tamir Rice.  The group states that prosecutors are exhibiting an egregious disregard for the criminal justice process by failing to take appropriate action on the probable cause ruling.

    (more…)

  • CAIR-Cleveland Seeks Probe of Police Officer’s Racist, Anti-Muslim Re-Tweets

    CAIR-Cleveland Seeks Probe of Police Officer’s Racist, Anti-Muslim Re-Tweets

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 7/1/2015) — The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) today called on the city’s Division of Police (CDP) to investigate whether a recently-promoted officer violated department policies by re-tweeting racist, anti-Muslim, anti-Obama, and pro-Confederate flag materials on Twitter.

    Officer Frank Woyma, who was recently promoted from patrol officer to sergeant, has re-tweeted images of a Quran being flushed down a toilet and of President Obama’s campaign logo with the headline “This is a symbol of racism, I would like it removed from my country.” One re-tweet, with an image of a Crusader knight, is headlined: “I will turn back the Muslim hordes,” with the note “Join our fight to save America.”

    (more…)

  • CAIR-Cleveland Joins Civil Rights Groups in Filing Amicus Brief on Concerns About Police Consent Decree

    CAIR-Cleveland Joins Civil Rights Groups in Filing Amicus Brief on Concerns About Police Consent Decree

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 6/29/15) – The Cleveland branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Collaborative for a Safe, Fair and Just Cleveland, and the Cleveland Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild announced the filing of an Amicus Brief today in US Federal District Court in the matter of United States v. City of Cleveland (1:15-cv-01046). CAIR-Cleveland is a founding member of the Collaborative for a Safe, Fair and Just Cleveland.

    (more…)

  • CAIR to Join Civil Rights Groups in Brief on DOJ’s Cleveland Police Consent Decree

    CAIR to Join Civil Rights Groups in Brief on DOJ’s Cleveland Police Consent Decree

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 6/26/15) – On Monday June 29, the Cleveland Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Collaborative for a Safe, Fair and Just Cleveland and the Cleveland chapter of the National Lawyers Guild will hold a joint press conference to announce the filing of an amicus (friend of the court) brief in US Federal District Court in the matter of United States v. City of Cleveland (1:15-cv-01946).

    [NOTE: The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) is a founding member of the Collaborative for a Safe, Fair and Just Cleveland.]

    (more…)

  • CAIR-Cleveland Welcomes Judge’s Finding of Probable Cause to Charge Police Officers in Tamir Rice’s Death

    CAIR-Cleveland Welcomes Judge’s Finding of Probable Cause to Charge Police Officers in Tamir Rice’s Death

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    CAIR-Cleveland Welcomes Judge’s Finding of Probable Cause to Charge Police Officers inTamir Rice’s Death

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 6/12/15) – The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) today welcomed a municipal court judge’s ruling Thursday that there is probable cause to charge two Cleveland police officers in the shooting death last November of 12-year-old Tamir Rice.

    SEE: Tamir Rice’s Family ‘Grateful’ After Judge Says There Is Probable Cause to Charge Cleveland Police Officers

    (more…)

  • CAIR-Cleveland to Join Legal Effort by Religious, Civil Rights Groups Seeking Charges in Tamir Rice Case

    CAIR-Cleveland to Join Legal Effort by Religious, Civil Rights Groups Seeking Charges in Tamir Rice Case

    (CLEVELAND, OH 6/9/2015) – On Tuesday, June 9th, the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) will join other civil rights leaders, activists, and clergy at a press conference in front of the Cuyahoga County Justice Center to announce that they are filing a number of citizens’ affidavits for probable cause in the death of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was killed by Cleveland Police Officers on November 22, 2014.

    SEE: Cleveland Leaders Bypass Prosecutors to Seek Charge in Tamir Rice Case (more…)

  • 400+ Turn Out at CAIR-Cleveland Event to Honor Muslim Hero of Paris Kosher Grocery Attack

    400+ Turn Out at CAIR-Cleveland Event to Honor Muslim Hero of Paris Kosher Grocery Attack

    (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.
    (more…)

  • CAIR-Cleveland to Honor French Muslim Hero Who Rescued Customers in Paris Kosher Supermarket Attack

    CAIR-Cleveland to Honor French Muslim Hero Who Rescued Customers in Paris Kosher Supermarket Attack

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 4/14/15) — On Sunday May 3, the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OHIO) will hold its 13th Annual Civil Rights Banquet, with the theme “Rooted in Faith: Growing Through Service,” at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Independence.

    At the event, CAIR will present the I-CAIR Honor and Courage Award to 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. (more…)