CAIR-MO

CAIR-Missouri to Call on Lewis Reed to Apologize for Islamophobic Attack, Ask Party Leaders to Denounce Behavior

(SAINT LOUIS, MO 2/19/2019) – On Wednesday, February 20, the Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MO), a chapter of the largest civil liberties and advocacy organization for Muslims in America, will hold a press conference to call on the President of the Board of Alderman, Lewis Reed, to apologize for baseless Islamophobic attacks and for party leaders to denounce this behavior.

WHEN: Wednesday, February 20^th @ 10:00 A.M. 
WHERE: St. Louis City Hall, North Entrance Facing Market St.

CONTACT: CAIR-MO Executive Director Faizan Syed, 314-403-3626, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SEE: Lewis Reed plays the Islamophobia card on Nasheed

http://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/guest_columnists/lewis-reed-plays-the-islamophobia-card-on-nasheed/article_63f04df8-33ba-11e9-8a31-7f91aeb9ed18.html

“We condemn this baseless Islamophobic attack against Senator Jamilah Nasheed, call on Mr. Reed to apologize and urge party leaders to denounce this sort of behavior,” said Faizan Syed, executive director of CAIR-Missouri.

After the press conference, the representatives of the presenting organizations will visit with members of the Board of Aldermen.

The United States has a documented history of many African Americans who convert to Islam and change their names to reflect their newly found faith. For those individuals, a name change is a part of their new identity and represents a spiritual rebirth. Famous examples of this include Muhammad Ali and El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X).

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-MO Executive Director Faizan Syed, 314-403-3626, 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.

(ST. LOUIS, MO, 5/17/2018) – The Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of O’Fallon School District 90 School Board Member Steve Springer over Islamophobic comments made about Muslim children.

Two emails show Springer questioning policy on how to address accommodating a transgender student. In one email, Springer wrote: "Next up?? Yes, next will be a place for Mohamed to wash his little feet and face Mecca three times during the school day.”

SEE: Emails fuel call for resignation of O’Fallon school board member ‘branded as racist’

The controversy started after Springer challenged the O’Fallon Public Library selection of a children book, “Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter,” which he said was inappropriate. A freedom of information request revealed the emails.

“Anyone who targets children with this type of derogatory language is unfit to serve on any school board,” said CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed. “Mr. Springer should resign immediately.”

ACTION ALERT: CAIR-Missouri is calling on community members to contact School Board President John Wagnon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to express their concerns about Springer’s comments.

Earlier this year, a self-described Confederate posted anti-Islam pictures on Twitter at the Parkway School District.

SEE: ‘Confederate’ Jeanie Ames Explains Anti-Islam Tweet at Muslim Hosted Forum

CAIR’s California chapter released a report documenting bias-based bullying of American Muslim students in that state’s schools. The report revealed that almost half of Muslim students say they had been subjected to some form of bias-based bullying.

SEE: Growing in Faith

CAIR-LA Releases Report on Bullying of Muslim Students (Video)

CAIR has witnessed an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.   

The Washington-based organization’s recently-released 2018 Civil Rights Report, “Targeted,” showed a 17 percent increase in bias-motivated incidents against American Muslims from 2016 to 2017, and a 15 percent increase in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes in that same time period.

New CAIR Report: Trump's Muslim Bans Increased Anti-Muslim Discrimination, Violence

Community members are being urged to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR’s Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/report        

CAIR launched an app to share critical “know your rights” information and to simplify the process to report hate crimes and bias incidents. CAIR is urging American Muslims and members of other minority groups to download the app and utilize this resource to stay informed and empowered.

For a quick download of CAIR’s civil rights app, click here: http://www.cair. com/app     

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, 314-403-3626, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(ST. LOUIS, MO, 3/20/2018) – On Saturday, March 31, the Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri) will host the 2nd annual “Creativity & Identity, An American Muslim Art Exhibition” featuring nearly three dozen local Muslim artists and performers – the majority of whom are Muslim women - to challenge stereotypes, build understanding and empower American Muslims to share their stories through art.

WHAT: Creativity & Identity, An American Muslim Art Exhibition

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 5:30 – 9:30 P.M.

WHERE: The Contemporary Art Museum (CAM)

3750 Washington Blvd, St. Louis MO, 63108

WEBSITE: www.cair-mo.org/art  

TICKETS: $15 Adults, $5 for children 12 and under, 5 and under free.

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/486645118397305/

CONTACT: CAIR-MO Executive Director Faizan Syed, 314-403-3626 E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Events Curator Yusra Ali, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Events Organizer Sadia Ali, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Meet Some of Our Artists & Performers: 

• Hi, I'm Aliaa Rehman, A Muslim Artist Who Loves Animals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq0sq9L951E
• These Two Sisters Want to Inspire American Muslim Artists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2HKbTjNOp0
• She Maybe Young But Her Words Are Sharp: Spoken Word Artist Alyaa Elsayed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdLXWoSDvx0
• Meet Adna Hodzic, A Bosnian-American Hijabi Muslim Poet: https://youtu.be/ILrRx4MO_XM

“We want to inspire a generation of American Muslim artists and performers who use their creative passions to tell their stories and not let others do it for them,” said Yusra Ali curator for the art exhibition. “After last year’s art exhibition, we had so many Muslim creatives reach out, especially Muslim women who wanted an opportunity to display their work and tell their stories. We are so inspired by the overwhelming number of Muslim women who are organizing, are premiered artists and performers, and will share their talents and stories on the last of National Women’s History Month.”

“Ever since I was young I was an avid artist who was always drawing but my parents wanted me to pursue a ‘real career and saw art as a side devalued hobby,” said Sadia Ali lead event coordinator of the Art Exhibition. “I want to challenge that notion within the Muslim community and give local Muslim creatives a platform to share their talents, come together, and see others within the community who have the same passion and struggle as them.”

The exhibition will feature nearly three dozen local Muslim artists and is the brainchild of Muslim women, organized by Muslim women, and the majority of artists and performers are Muslim women.

During the event, various artists will display their art at CAM, discuss how art impacts their faith and identity as American Muslims. Various Muslim performers and artists will give speeches, poems, spoken word, Nasheed (singing), inspiring speeches, and comedy performances. International food will be served at the event. Guests will be able to purchase art from the local artists. A children’s interactive section is setup at the Exhibition where kids will have fun making various crafts. A variety of interactive tables are also setup ranging from Henna Art, to Arabic Calligraphy, to pancake art, and spray-painted t-shirts. The exhibition is open to the public and is a family-friendly event.

“When Americans think of Islam or Muslims, especially Muslim women, the last thing they would think of are artists who use various mediums to express themselves and share their stories” said Faizan Syed Executive Director of CAIR-Missouri. “We want to transform not only the way the greater community views Islam and American Muslims but within our community create opportunities for Muslims to pursue their artistic passions. So often the stories of women in general and especially minority women go untold and underappreciated. This art exhibition challenges that.”

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties 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.

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CONTACT: CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed, 636-207-8882, 314-330-2946, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.