CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Committee Member Salima Suswell was interviewed by Alex Holley on FOX 29’s “Alex Around Town” segment about the “America to Zanzibar” exhibit at the Please Touch Museum.
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CAIR-Pennsylvania Applauds Church’s Decision to Cancel Event Featuring Anti-Muslim Hate Group Leader Brigitte Gabriel
The Philadelphia and Pittsburgh chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Pennsylvania) today applauded Cross Creek Community Church in Kingston Township, Penn., for its decision to cancel a presentation by Brigitte Gabriel, head of the anti-Muslim hate group ACT for America. Pastor Dave Martin told a local media outlet that he withdrew approval to hold the event at his church after learning more about Gabriel and her hate group.
Continue readingCAIR-Pennsylvania Calls for Resignation of Local School Board Official Over Anti-Muslim Posts
The Philadelphia and Pittsburgh chapters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Pennsylvania (CAIR-Pennsylvania) today called for the resignation of a local school board member who shared anti-Muslim posts on Facebook and Twitter. The official, Frank Scavo, is the president of Old Forge School Board in Lackawanna County, as well as a Republican candidate for state representative. In the posts, Mr. Scavo portrayed Muslims as terrorists, pedophiles or rapists on his personal Facebook and Twitter accounts during the last four years.
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CAIR-Philadelphia Condemns Trump’s Planned Border Wall Emergency Declaration as ‘Abuse of Executive Authority’
The Philadelphia Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia), the local office of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned President Trump’s announcement that he will declare a national emergency to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border as an “abuse of executive authority.” Yesterday, Trump announced that he will sign legislation to prevent a government shutdown while at the same time declaring a national emergency to build the border wall.
Continue readingNew Exhibit at Please Touch Museum Teaches Muslim Culture
CAIR-Philadelphia partnered with Please Touch Museum to train the Museum staff on the basic tenets and history of Islam ahead of America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far, an exhibit that recently opened to the public at the Please Touch Museum.
The exhibit is a hands-on experience for kids to learn about Muslim art, architecture, trade, fashion and more. CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Committee Member Salima Suswell was featured on PHL17’s segment:
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Tell Congress to Protect Free Speech, Oppose Unconstitutional Anti-BDS Bill
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, today called on all Americans who value the Constitution to contact their elected representatives in Congress to urge them to oppose an “anti-BDS” bill introduced last week that would provide federal protection to states that pass laws penalizing Americans who participate in political boycotts aimed at Israel and its illegal settlements in occupied territories.
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Happy New Year from CAIR-Philadelphia
For many Muslims in America, myself included, 2018 was a difficult year, as we witnessed the growth off verbal and physical attacks on American Muslims and other minorities; all, no doubt, encouraged by the open and coded racist discourse emanating from the highest government officials in the land and spread maliciously throughout the internet and broadcast and print media. CAIR-Philadelphia’s response to this tide of ignorance was to further intensify its Education and Outreach programs during 2018. At CAIR-Philadelphia we developed several strategic initiatives to empower our communities, built coalitions with our partners and launched new programs.
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CAIR-Philadelphia End-of-Year Newsletter
The year 2018 is drawing to a close, with the past several months being particularly difficult ones for those of us committed to a pluralistic, peaceful, and just vision of America.
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Merry Christmas from CAIR-Philadelphia
CAIR-Philadelphia wishes all of our Christian friends a joyous Christmas and a New Year of peace and justice — from Pakistan, to Palestine, to Pennsylvania.
Lo! The angels said “O Mary! Behold, God sends thee the glad tiding, through a word from Him, [of a son] who will become known as the Christ Jesus, son of Mary…”
Holy Qur’an, 3:45
From Civil Conflict to Civil Rights: My Year on the Legal Battlefront
As we have remarked before, the United States continues to witness a spike in Islamophobia, which has become exacerbated by the brazen bigotry and xenophobia of the present presidential administration. While various outlets like Newsweek and The Washington Post each have reported on this heinous rise in hate targeting Muslims, I can personally attest to this increase firsthand based on the numerous complaints I routinely field as the Muslim community suffers from the anguish and anxiety caused by the implications of increased harassment and discrimination.
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