(PHILADELPHIA, 06/03/2020) – The Philadelphia Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned Joseph C. Gale, the Montgomery County Commissioner, because of his recent press statement, “Riots and Looting in Philadelphia.”
We believe that Commissioner Gale’s statement further inflames already heated passions and further incites violence. The statement by Commissioner Gale encourages bias and stereotypes, and puts forth statements that are not backed-up by the evidence, and are actually false, as, for example, his charges that,
“… a complicit media constantly pushing the bogus narrative of systemic police brutality and white racism…” “Too many Democrat mayors are sympathizers of far-left radical enemy combatants… and their mistaken empathy has enabled a level of unfettered criminality never witnessed before in American history.”
In response, Mohammed Zubairu, a board member of CAIR-Philadelphia and a resident of Montgomery County, said:
“Commissioner Gale’s statement in the middle of a national trauma can only be interpreted as his willingness to inflict additional pain upon a community already in mourning, and akin to throwing gasoline on the fire.”
CAIR-Philadelphia joins with people of good faith to demand that Mr. Gale recognize his mistake in pedaling prejudice at this painful time in American history. We invite him to immediately apologize to the residents of Montgomery County and all Americans. In the absence of such an apology, Mr. Gale should step down as he has already violated the trust of the broader Montgomery County community.
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 Board Member Mohammed Zubairu, info@philadelphia.cair.com
