CAIR-Cleveland & Northern Ohio

Category: Civil Rights Programs

  • More Than 425 People Attend CAIR-Cleveland Civil Rights Banquet

    More Than 425 People Attend CAIR-Cleveland Civil Rights Banquet

    More than 425 people attend CAIR-Cleveland Civil Rights Banquet

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 4/22/18) – On Saturday April 21, the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OHIO) hosted its 16th Annual Civil Rights Banquet, with the theme “Living Our Faith, Defending Freedom.” More than 425 people attended, and the fundraising goals set for the event were exceeded.

    The annual event raises funds for CAIR-Cleveland’s work to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

    Banquet speakers included Roula Allouch, Esq., CAIR-National Board Chair; Imam Suheib Webb, Founder of SWISS; Hassan Shibly, Esq., Chief Executive Director of CAIR-Florida, Edward Mitchell, Esq., Executive Director of CAIR-Georgia; and Preacher Moss, All-Star Comedian and Educator. In addition, CAIR presented their I-CAIR Volunteer of the Year Award to interfaith volunteers Grace Uhle and Donna Asnani.

    CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com or Isam Zaiem, 216.337.7928 or isamz@sbcglobal.net

    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.

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

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  • CAIR Reps Speak at Trinity Cathedral Forum on Civil Rights Issues Facing American Muslims

    CAIR Reps Speak at Trinity Cathedral Forum on Civil Rights Issues Facing American Muslims

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 11/27/17) – Representatives of the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) recently presented on civil rights issues facing the Muslim community in America at the Dean’s Forum at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

    The forum, which was moderated by The Rev. Dr. Paul L. Gaston III, Interim Dean of the Cathedral, was a part of a series of Sunday dialogues called “The Dean’s Forum Podcast.”

    It covered issues such as the gap between the faith of Islam and its peaceful practitioners and the negative perception of Muslims in America due to the scourge of terrorism.

    The forum also included information on Islamophobia and those who promote anti-Muslim bigotry, including right-wing think-tanks, religious figures, public officials, and commentators.

    Forum participants touched on the rise in hate crimes and anti-Muslim discrimination, and provided information on dispelling stereotypes and how members of interfaith communities can take practical steps to help stem the tide of anti-Muslim bigotry through concrete action at the local level.

    To listen to the Dean’s Forum Podcast, go to:

    https://trinitycleveland.org/the-deans-forum-podcasts/

    “Understanding and empathy are key to activating the wider public to stand up against scapegoating and bigotry that are increasingly being deployed for political gain in our country,” said CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia Shearson. “The forum provided a chance for congregants to hear first-hand about how the rise of anti-Muslim racism and hate crimes are directly impacting the American Muslim community and what interfaith allies can do to help stop the hate.”

    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.

    La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

    CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, CAIR-Cleveland executive director, 216.440.2247 or jshearson@cair.com, Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Communications Director, 202.744.7726, ihooper@cair.com

  • CAIR-Cleveland Holds “Know Your Rights” Forum for Uzbek Muslim Community at Northeast Ohio Mosque

    CAIR-Cleveland Holds “Know Your Rights” Forum for Uzbek Muslim Community at Northeast Ohio Mosque

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 11/2/2017) — The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) hosted an emergency Know Your Rights forum for the Uzbek community at the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent. The forum was in response to the surge in law enforcement questioning of the local Uzbek community in the wake of the terrorist attack in New York City allegedly perpetrated by an Uzbek national.

    The alleged perpetrator had lived in the Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, area for several years before moving to Florida.

    CAIR-Cleveland said the overarching message of the forum was that American Muslims strongly support law enforcement and the protection of our national security and, like all Americans, we also value civil rights.

    At the forum, which was conducted in English and Uzbeki language, a CAIR representative and two attorneys provided basic Know Your Rights information regarding interacting with law enforcement. The purpose of the forum was to ensure that community members are informed of their rights, including the right to remain silent as well as the right to have an attorney present during any law enforcement interviews. The forum also covered issues related to immigration status, warrants and search and seizure issues.

    SEE: Your Rights with Law Enforcement at https://www.cair.com/know-your-rights.html

    CAIR’s Know Your Rights & Responsibilities Pocket Guide

    https://www.cair.com/images/pdf/Know-Your-Rights-Guide.pdf

    “Because the Uzbek community is being blanketed by FBI and DHS requests for voluntary interviews in the wake of the New York terror attack, it is important that constitutional rights are upheld during any and all law enforcement interactions, including any potential interviews,” said Julia Shearson, CAIR-Cleveland executive director, who helped moderate the forum.

    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.

    La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

    CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, CAIR-Cleveland executive director, 216.440.2247 or jshearson@cair.com , Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Communications Director, 202.744.7726, ihooper@cair.com

  • CAIR-Ohio Rep Addresses Profiling and Surveillance in the National Security Context

    CAIR-Ohio Rep Addresses Profiling and Surveillance in the National Security Context

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 4/16/11) – A representative of the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) recently presented a seminar on profiling in the national security context at the “Save Our Communities” social justice conference in Cleveland.

    The seminar, entitled Profiling Islam: Faith Under Surveillance, offered an in-depth look at various national security policies that have dramatically increased racial, religious, and ethnic profiling in America. Presented by Julia Shearson, executive director of CAIR-Cleveland, the seminar showed how the federal government’s ineffective, misguided and costly dragnet approach to national security makes us less safe and less free.

    “Policies that promote profiling, erode civil liberties, and undermine trust between communities and law enforcement are counterproductive and should be dismantled,”said CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson said.”

    CONTACT:  CAIR-Ohio Communications Coordinator Nijma Darwish, 614.451.3232, E-Mail: ndarwish@cair.com