CAIR-Pittsburgh Welcomes Resignation of Islamophobic Pennsylvania Official

(PITTSBURGH, PA, 7/15/19) – 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 welcomed the resignation of Robinson Township Republican Committee Chairman Jack Cairns over vitriolic and violent Islamophobic Facebook posts about Muslims.

SEE: Robinson Township Republican Committee chair resigns over Islamophobic Facebook posts
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2019/07/12/Robinson-Township-Republican-Committee-chair-resigns-over-Islamophobic-Facebook-posts/stories/201907120152

Last Friday, CAIR-Pittsburgh called for Cairns’ resignation after releasing screenshots of his Islamophobic posts.

SEE: CAIR-Pittsburgh Calls for Resignation of Pennsylvania GOP Official Over Violently Islamophobic Facebook Posts
https://www.cair.com/cair_pittsburgh_calls_for_resignation_of_pennsylvania_gop_official_over_violently_islamophobic_facebook_posts

ISLAMOPHOBIC POSTS:
https://tinyurl.com/GOPOfficialPosts

“We welcome this resignation and hope it serves as a clear statement to all that hatred and bigotry will not be tolerated,” said CAIR-Pittsburgh Program Director Zohra Lasania. “We look forward to continuing to educate and serve the community, fight bigotry and dispel hateful stereotypes of Muslims and Islam.”

Lasania also thanked the Republican Committee of Allegheny County for condemning the posts and affirming its commitment to the growth and prosperity of all residents regardless of religion.

SEE: Statement on CAIR Pittsburgh Call for Resignation of Mr. Jack Cairns
http://www.rcac.net/statement-on-cair-pittsburgh-call-for-resignation-of-mr-jack-cairns/

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights organization has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.

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-Pittsburgh Program Director Zohra Lasania, 412-606-3601, zlasania@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

RCAC announced the resignation of Jack Cairns, Committee Chair of RCAC, on their website: 

http://www.rcac.net/statement-on-cair-pittsburgh-call-for-resignation-of-mr-jack-cairns/

Date: 7/12/2019

Statement on CAIR Pittsburgh Call for Resignation of Mr. Jack Cairns

Today, we were made aware of offensive, anti-Muslim, Facebook posts made by a member of our Robinson Township Republican Committee, Jack Cairns. The RCAC in no way endorses the comments or views of Mr. Cairns, and we condemn, in the strongest terms possible, these hateful posts.

The mission of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County is to foster the growth and prosperity of all residents of Allegheny County regardless of their race, religion, or creed.

Mr. Cairns has resigned, effective immediately, from his membership within the Robinson Township Republican Committee and the Republican Committee of Allegheny County.

Also please see Post Gazette article:

https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2019/07/12/Robinson-Township-Republican-Committee-chair-resigns-over-Islamophobic-Facebook-posts/stories/201907120152

CAIR-Pittsburgh Calls for Resignation of Pennsylvania GOP Official Over Violently Islamophobic Facebook Posts

(PITTSBURGH, PA, 7/12/19) – The Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Pittsburgh), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim and civil rights advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of Robinson Township Republican Committee Chairman Jack Cairns over a slew of violently Islamophobic and hate-filled posts about Muslims.

Posts by Cairns include a photo of the Islamic holy city of Mecca with the caption, “One nuke! Bye bye,” a video of a woman shooting targets with the comment, “Too bad it wasn’t Muslims she was shooting!” a photo of a dog defecating on the Quran with the text, “F*ck Islam, F*ck the Qur’an, F*ck Muhammad, F*ck Allah,” and one that simply states, “Hate Muslims!”

ISLAMOPHOBIC POSTS:

https://tinyurl.com/GOPOfficialPosts

“Mr. Cairns has essentially called for violence, and even genocide, against an entire religious minority community,” said CAIR-Pittsburgh Program Director Zohra Lasania. “That this individual is representing the Republican Party should worry not only citizens in Robinson Township, but also the entire GOP establishment.”

Lasania also called on the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania and fellow Robinson Township Republican Committee members Dimitrios Pantzoulas, Nevin Robb and Stacy Baltzell to disavow Cairns and repudiate his posts.

In February, CAIR-Pittsburgh called for and welcomed the resignation of a Plum Borough School Board member over an anti-Muslim Facebook post.

SEE: CAIR-Pittsburgh Joins NAACP in Calling for Resignation of School Official Over Anti-Muslim Post

https://www.cair.com/cair_pittsburgh_joins_naacp_in_calling_for_resignation_of_school_official_over_anti_muslim_post

CAIR-Pittsburgh Welcomes Resignation of School Official Over Anti-Muslim Post

https://www.cair.com/cair_pittsburgh_welcomes_resignation_of_school_official_over_anti_muslim_post

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights organization has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.

CAIR 2018 Civil Rights Report: Targeted

http://www.islamophobia.org/reports/224-2018-civil-rights-report-targeted.html

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-Pittsburgh Program Director Zohra Lasania, 412-606-3601, zlasania@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

The Pittsburgh Muslim Community and the Pittsburgh chapter of Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) started raising funds to cover victim’s current and future medical expenses and to pay for the services of an attorney as the family is filing charges against the perpetrator. This crowd funding page has been setup as part of these efforts. Your donations will be greatly appreciated and will only be used for the victim’s welfare. If there are any funds remaining after taking care of her medical needs, those funds will be placed into an educational savings account to help her with college expenses.

To help the victim, please visit this page:

CAIR Pittsburgh board and staff were present on Tuesday, October 30^th to partake in a protest hosted by Bend The Arc. All present were protesting against Trump’s visit and were demanding him and the Republican Party to fully denounce white nationalism, stop targeting and endangering all minorities, cease assault on immigrants and refugees, and to commit to compassionate, democratic policies that recognize the dignity of all of us.

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