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
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
