CAIR- Pittsburgh Calls on U of Pittsburgh to Drop Charges Against Anti-Genocide Protesters
The Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Pittsburgh), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the University of Pittsburgh to drop charges against its students advocating against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
In early June, a protest unfolded on the lawn outside the Cathedral of Learning, as demonstrators set up tents and barriers to demand that the University of Pittsburgh reveal and withdraw any investments linked to Israel amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza. During the second day of the encampment, there were clashes between protesters and police resulting in arrests, many with harsh charges.
In a statement, CAIR-Pittsburgh Executive Director Christine Mohamed said:
“Students have been targeted for their political speech, their integrity has been questioned, behind the scenes pressure on administrators led to police violence, and a heavy-handed legal approach is now threatening the well-being of these students.
“The 19 people facing criminal charges – and their allies – have showcased the best of American protest culture: they organized democratically, engaged their peers, established coalitions, and spoke truth to power.
“We encourage the University of Pittsburgh to stop criminalizing its students. The University’s Police Department needs to immediately drop the charges and work to establish the lost trust between the university and the student body. As a public institution run by Pennsylvanian’s tax dollars, it is past time for Pitt to change course and heed student voices calling for accountability for the harm it created against its students.”
CAIR-PA has documented an uptick in anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian incidents across Pennsylvania and we are concerned about the messaging this sends to our marginalized community members who are rightly engaging in their constitutionally protected activities.
In May of 2024, CAIR Received 145 complaints of education discrimination across the country, a 101% increase over the previous month.
In CAIR’s new report, “Hostile: How Universities Target Anti-Genocide Protesters While Enabling Anti-Palestinian Racism and Islamophobia”, which was shipped to 600 university administrators ahead of this morning’s announcement, CAIR detailed free speech violations and rising Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism targeting anti-genocide student protesters at over 30 colleges and universities.
CAIR’s 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 Pittsburgh Executive Director Christine Mohamed, 412-606-3601, cmohamed@cair.com
