CAIR National Offers $5000 Reward for Info
(COLUMBUS, OH 2/21/17) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed solidarity with and support for the Jewish community after a wave of bomb threats targeted community centers nationwide, including the Mandel JCC in Cleveland. In January, JCCs in Cincinnati and Columbus were also targeted.
Yesterday, additional threats were reported by community centers in Birmingham, Chicago, St. Paul, Tampa, Albuquerque, Houston, Milwaukee, Nashville, and Buffalo. Yesterday’s threats were the latest in a series of bomb threats targeting Jewish community centers nationwide in the last two months.
Columbus Dispatch: Bomb threats made to 11 more Jewish centers like Columbus hoax: http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170220/bomb-threats-made-to-11-more-jewish-centers-like-columbus-hoax
Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood Among 10 Jewish Centers That Received Bomb Threats Yesterday: http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2017/02/21/mandel-jewish-community-center-in-beachwood-among-10-jewish-centers-that-received-bomb-threats-yesterday
“While we are relieved that no one was hurt by yesterday’s threats, we are sad and disappointed that members of the Ohio Jewish community and their institutions are being targeted by hatred and bigotry,” said Julia Shearson, director of the CAIR-Cleveland office. “As a community that has also been severely targeted by the recent rise in hate crimes, we want to express our solidarity and support for our brothers and sisters in our local Jewish communities and nationwide.”
CAIR Chapters across the country have reported an unprecedented spike in hate rhetoric and bias-motivated incidents targeting American Muslims, Jews and other minorities since the election of President Trump.
In addition to CAIR-Ohio’s statement, the National office of CAIR also issued a statement and offered a $5000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who committed the bomb threats. Both the Ohio Chapter and national CAIR office noted the “tremendous level of support” offered to American Muslims by the Jewish community whenever Muslims have been targeted by hate in recent months.
Video: CAIR Offers Reward for Info on Threats Targeting Jewish Community Centers Nationwide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ckTsgyb1jI
“It is the duty of American Muslims to offer support to the Jewish community and any minority group targeted by the recent spike in hate crimes nationwide,”said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.“We hope this reward will aid in the swift apprehension and prosecution of the perpetrators.”
CAIR, established in Washington DC in 1994, 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. CAIR-Ohio was established in 1998 and has offices in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia Shearson at 216-830-2247 or jshearson@cair.com, CAIR-Columbus Executive Director Jennifer Nimer at 614-451-3232 or jnimer@cair.com, or CAIR-Cincinnati Executive Director Karen Dabdoub at 513-281-8200 or kdabdoub@cair.com