(ST. LOUIS, MO, 6/6/2019) – Yesterday, leaders of the Muslim community and the Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, filed an official complaint with the Civilian Oversight Board in response to the ongoing controversy of dozens of current and former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officers posting hate filled messages on social media.
CAIR-Missouri has reached out to the mayor’s office, chief of police, and other city officials to arrange a meeting, share the community’s concerns and discuss solutions.
SEE: Police Investigate Racist and Anti-Muslim Facebook Posts Linked to St. Louis Officers
“We want to ensure that this investigation is done without bias in order to rebuild trust between the police department and our community,” said CAIR-MO Executive Director Faizan Syed. “Today we are calling on the mayor and other city officials to immediately setup a meeting with community leaders to discuss the ongoing controversy. Unless our voices are heard, the proposed ‘sensitivity training’ is not nearly enough to rebuild trust.”
CAIR-MO believes sensitivity training could potentially be positive but holds reservations as to the content and scope. The organization also believes a one-off training alone is not enough to rectify the ongoing situation.
CAIR-MO is demanding the following from city officials:
- Sensitivity Training: Need clarification as to who will be doing the training, what will be covered, and the impact of that training. This training must be provided on a regular basis and incorporate it into new recruit training in order to create meaningful long-lasting change.
- Update Hiring Practices: The hiring practices of SLMPD must be updated to ensure new recruits do not hold such prejudices before being hired by the Police Department.
- Holding Officers Accountable: All officers involved in this controversy must be held accountable.
- Expand Commitment to Diversifying Police Force: SLMPD must expand their commitment to hiring a more diverse Police Force that reflects the diversity of the St. Louis 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-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed, 314-330-2946, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
