(CLEVELAND, OH, 1/30/2023) – The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio (CAIR-Ohio) thanks the Cleveland State University (CSU) Police Department for their arrest of Alec Popivker in response to a violated protection order filed against him by a CSU student.
SEE: CSU PD arrested Popivker and removed him from campus grounds for violating a protection order
Popivker has allegedly been harassing individuals of Palestinian, Middle Eastern and Muslim descent on CSU’s campus, often filming these students and posting their images on social media as an attempt to intimidate others from exercising their right to free speech.
SEE: CSU silent on Alec Popivker’s return; persona non grata hearing
SEE: Cleveland State temporarily bans Alec Popivker; Persona non grata case pending
On Instagram, Popivker has also admitted to stealing the banner belonging to CSU’s student organization Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights. This banner was stolen from CSU’s Student Center on January 11.
SEE: CSU PD investigating the theft of the Palestinian Human Rights student organization banner
CAIR-Ohio urges the CSU Police Department to conduct a complete investigation and exercise the full extent of the law to protect CSU students’ rights to safety and free speech.
In a statement, CAIR-Cleveland Interim Executive Director Faten Husni Odeh stated:
“We are here for the students and members of the community who feel unsafe because of their views, beliefs or where they come from. These students were allegedly targeted because of their Palestinian roots and advocacy for human rights for Palestine. At CAIR, we believe it is important that the safety of those who want to practice free speech, whether they be Palestinian or otherwise, be protected. We urge anyone who has personally felt threatened by this individual to please contact us. We are here for you.”
A petition was created by CSU students to ask Cleveland State University to “take permanent and corrective action to protect their students from harassment.”
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.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Chapter Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh, 216.830.2247, fodeh@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202.744.7726, ihooper@cair.com