CAIR Calls Nationwide Anti-Islam Rallies a 'Bust,' Says Counter-Protests Far Overshadowed Hate Marches

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said anti-Islam rallies held around the country on Saturday were an "bust" and were far overshadowed by counter-demonstrators who outnumbered the Islamophobes and their white supremacist and anti-government allies almost 10-to-1.

SEE: NY Anti-Sharia Demonstration Dwarfed By Islam-Supporting Protesters

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/anti-sharia-demonstration-dwarfed-islam-supporting-protesters-article-1.3237042

'Anti-Sharia' Marchers Met With Counter-Protests Around the Country (NPR)

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/11/532454216/anti-sharia-marchers-met-with-counter-protests-around-the-country

CAIR-NY: 'Anti-Sharia Law' Rally Outnumbered By Counter-Demonstrators

http://gothamist.com/2017/06/11/anti-islam_rally_overwhelmed_by_cou.php#photo-1

CAIR: Anti-Sharia Law March Met By Opposition Across United States (UPI)

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2017/06/11/Anti-Sharia-law-march-met-by-opposition-across-United-States/8041497182140/

CAIR: Rallies Against Islamic Law Draw Counter-Protests Across US (AP)

http://www.macon.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article155561054.html

CAIR: Anti-Sharia Rallies Across US Draw Hundreds to Counter-Protests (Reuters)

http://www.firstpost.com/world/anti-sharia-rallies-across-us-draw-hundreds-of-counter-protests-3540419.html

CAIR: Counter-Protests Outnumber Anti-Muslim Marches in Several Cities Across U.S. (Slate)

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/06/10/counter_protests_outnumber_anti_muslim_marches_in_several_cities_across.html

CAIR National Executive Director Ibrahim Hooper told the Washington Post: "The anti-Islam rallies were a bust. We've seen a tremendous rise in the level of anti-Muslim bigotry in our society -- and against minorities of all kinds -- but we've also seen a tremendous rise in support."

CAIR: How an Anti-Islam Protest Outside the Texas Statehouse Got Totally Shut Down (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/06/11/how-an-anti-sharia-protest-outside-the-texas-statehouse-got-totally-shut-down/  

He said CAIR chapters nationwide helped organize events challenging the bigotry promoted by the anti-Islam marchers.

CAIR-SFBA: 1,000 Turn Out for San Jose Unity Rally, Show Strength and Diversity as Alternative to Anti-Islam Event

https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14405-cair-sfba-1-000-turn-out-for-san-jose-unity-rally-show-strength-and-diversity-as-alternative-to-anti-islam-event.html

CAIR-SFBA: Act for America, CAIR Square Off Near Santana Row

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Act-for-America-CAIR-Protests-Santana-Row-San-Jose-Santa-Clara-427668703.html

Georgia Muslims Collect 500+ Pounds of Food Donations at Packed Interfaith Rally, 'No To Extremism & Bigotry, Yes To Service & Unity'

https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14404-georgia-muslims-collect-500-pounds-of-food-donations-at-packed-interfaith-rally-no-to-extremism-bigotry-yes-to-service-unity.html

Hundreds Turn Out for CAIR-NY, NYIC 'New York City Loves Muslims' Rally, Show Positive Alternative to Anti-Islam Event

https://www.cair.com/press-center/14403-hundreds-turn-out-for-cair-ny-nyic-new-york-city-loves-muslims-rally-show-positive-alternative-to-anti-islam-event.html

CAIR-Kentucky Reacts to Anti-Sharia Law Protests

http://www.wtvq.com/2017/06/11/cair-kentucky-reacts-anti-sharia-law-protests/

CAIR-Kansas to Join Interfaith, Civil Rights Groups for "Unity Rally and Iftar" in Response to Anti-Islam Protest

https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational/photos/a.92140837694.89999.42590232694/10154865289337695/

White supremacist, armed anti-government and neo-Nazi group were prominent at a number of the anti-Islam rallies.

Georgia State Senator Poses with Armed Anti-Government Militia at Anti-Islam Rally

http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2017/06/10/georgia-gop-candidate-poses-with-controversial-militia-at-anti-sharia-rally/

CAIR: Far-Right Groups Converge Behind Anti-Islam Message in Raleigh

https://triad-city-beat.com/far-right-groups-converge-behind-anti-sharia-message-raleigh/

White Supremacists at NY Anti-Islam Rally

http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-1.794962

Neo-Nazis Have Been Recruiting People Online to Help Organize and Attend Anti-Islam Rallies

https://mic.com/articles/179386/the-splc-calls-act-for-america-organizers-hypocrites-for-march-against-sharia-rallies

Anti-Immigrant, Anti-Muslim, Refugee-Hating 'Soldiers of Odin' at Anti-Islam Rally in Harrisburg. Pa.

https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational/photos/a.92140837694.89999.42590232694/10154865827682695/

The main organizer of the anti-Islam rallies was ACT for America, which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The SPLC has named ACT for America leader "Brigitte Gabriel" as a member of the nation's "Anti-Muslim Inner Circle."

Gabriel has argued that, "America is at stage two Islamic Cancer." She believes "every practicing Muslim is a radical Muslim," a Muslim "cannot be a loyal citizen of the United States," and that Arabs "have no soul."

CAIR Islamophobia Monitor: ACT for America

http://www.islamophobia.org/islamophobic-orgs/act-for-america.html

SPLC: Anti-Muslim Inner Circle

https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/act-america

Who is the Real Brigitte Gabriel?

https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/03/23/who-real-brigitte-gabriel

CAIR has noted an unprecedented spike in hate incidents targeting Muslims and other minority groups since the November 8 election.

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights organization recently released a report showing a 57 percent increase in anti-Muslim incidents in 2016 over the previous year. This spike in anti-Muslim incidents was accompanied by a 44 percent increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes during the same period.

SEE: New CAIR Report Shows More than 50 Percent Spike in Anti-Muslim Incidents

https://www.cair.com/press-center/14322-new-cair-report-shows-more-than-50-percent-spike-in-anti-muslim-incidents.html

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.           

CONTACT: CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, csaylor@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cair-calls-nationwide-anti-islam-rallies-a-bust-says-counter-protests-far-overshadowed-hate-marches-300472059.html

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)