(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 6/22/20) – The Philadelphia Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest American Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, strongly condemned President Trump’s racist attack this past Saturday on Muslim Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN), during his first major campaign rally since the outbreak of COVID-19.
The location of the rally, in Tulsa, OK, is itself an affront to the entire African American community as Tulsa is the sight of the infamous massacre of Blacks that took place on June 19, 1921.
CAIR also rebuked Trump for his ongoing bigoted use of anti-Asian terms (“kung flu” and “Chinese virus”) to describe the COVID-19 global pandemic.
During the rally, Trump renewed his racist attacks on Rep. Omar, who emigrated to the U.S. from Somalia as a child, by falsely claiming she would want “to make the government of our country just like the country from where she came, Somalia: no government, no safety, no police, no nothing — just anarchy” adding “and now she’s telling us how to run our country.” Trump concluded the racist diatribe with, “No, thank you.”
Video: Trump Renews Racist Attack on Muslim Rep. Ilhan Omar’s National Origin
In a statement, Jacob Bender, CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director, said: “The President of the United States has yet to learn the most important fact about our country, and that is that America is a nation of immigrants. That is what makes America great, not the white supremacist ideology the President peddles from his pulpit. Trump’s racism is apparent for all to see in his continuing attacks on Rep. Omar, and his defense of Confederate traitors, describing the Confederate statues as ‘our monuments.’
“Like all who derive joy from the mistreatment of their fellow human beings, Trump’s bullying antics are the only response he can muster to hide his feelings of inadequacy.”
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-Philadelphia Executive Director Jacob Bender, 917-660-3805 (mobile), 267-515-6710 (office), jbender@cair.com
