CAIR Launches 2012 'Muslims Vote' Campaign

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today launched its 2012 "Muslims Vote" campaign designed to empower American Muslims by increasing their political capacity and presence.

CAIR's initiative -- launched two weeks before the January 3 Iowa Caucus -- includes a2012 presidential voter guide, an online voter registration tool, a video promoting online voter registration, and the Twitter hashtag "#MuslimsVote." CAIR has also mailed all presidential candidates its 2012 election questionnaire.

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization's non-partisan voter campaign will focus on ensuring that American Muslims actively participate in the 2012 election cycle by volunteering in election campaigns, registering to vote, hosting candidate forums, and by mobilizing other community members through "get out the vote" initiatives.

CAIR will also pay special attention to Muslim voters under the age of 30 who -- like all Americans of that age -- are under-represented on voter rolls.

"We're calling on all American Muslims to fulfill their civic responsibility by doing their part in the upcoming presidential election," said CAIR Government Affairs Coordinator Robert McCaw. "We are committed to making sure our community's voice is heard in this critical election cycle."

"With large concentrations of Muslim voters in key swing states -- such as Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and Michigan -- the American Muslim community has the potential to be influential in determining the next president of the United States," said McCaw.

Components of CAIR's 2012 "Muslims Vote" election campaign include:

• Distributing 2012 presidential voter guides to ensure that American Muslims are knowledgeable about the candidates and their positions.
  • SEE: CAIR 2012 Presidential Voter Guide
• Registering American Muslims to vote throughout the election cycle by means of traditional and Internet-based initiatives.
  • SEE: CAIR's Rock the Vote-Sponsored Online Voter Registration Tool 
• Video: CAIR Guide to Online Voter Registration
• Distributing questionnaires to all presidential candidates. Candidate responses will be published in CAIR's candidate scorecards, scheduled to be released in February.
  • SEE: CAIR's 2012 Candidate Questionnaire
• Distributing news items on CAIR's Twitter account @CAIRNational using the hashtag #MuslimsVote focusing on niche news relating to Muslims and the election.
• Reaching out to the leadership of the nation's top four political parties.
• Promoting outreach strategies and volunteer opportunities for Muslims.

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.

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Coordinator Robert McCaw, Tel: 202-742-6448, E-Mail: rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, E-Mail: csaylor@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail:ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com 

CAIR, UC Berkeley to Release First Annual Islamophobia Report

- MEDIA ADVISORY -

DC: CAIR, UC Berkeley to Release First Annual Islamophobia Report
Groundbreaking report lists ‘worst’ Islamophobes, ‘best’ of those pushing back against growing anti-Muslim sentiment

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/21/11) -- On Thursday, June 23, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Race and Gender will hold a news conference on Capitol Hill to release “Same Hate, New Target,” the first-of-its-kind annual report outlining the disturbing growth of Islamophobia in the United States during 2009-2010.
[NOTE: A number of CAIR chapters around the nation will hold similar news conferences to release the report.]
The groundbreaking report also lists the “worst” Islamophobes and the “best” of those pushing back against growing anti-Muslim sentiment in American society.

WHAT: CAIR, UC Berkeley to Release ‘Same Hate, New Target’ Islamophobia Report
WHEN: Thursday, June 23, 11 a.m.
WHERE: CAIR National Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C.
CONTACT: CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-384-8857      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, E-Mail csaylor@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-744-7726      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com
“This groundbreaking report creates a benchmark for examining the troubling growth of anti-Muslim sentiment in our society and offers a who’s who of those promoting or challenging Islamophobia,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “As the recent GOP presidential debate demonstrated, Islamophobia is moving toward the mainstream and therefore must be challenged by all Americans who learned from those periods in our nation’s history when other minorities were similarly targeted.”
CAIR Says GOP Candidates Seem at Ease with Anti-Muslim Sentiment
Muslim Bashing by GOP Candidates? Nothing New Here (Wash Post)
Based on available data and interviews with experts, the report offers a definition of Islamophobia, an overview of its growing negative impact in the United States and names of individuals and institutions known for promoting or opposing the phenomenon. It has special sections on the manufactured controversy over the Park 51 Islamic community center in Manhattan, the 2010 Oklahoma ballot initiative targeting Islamic principles (Sharia) and Islamophobia in the 2010 elections.

The report also offers a vision regarding Islamophobia in America, looks toward the time when being Muslim carries a positive connotation and presents an initial set of recommendations for moving toward that goal.

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 National Legislative Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-384-8857      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, E-Mail csaylor@cair.com; UC Berkeley Professor Dr. Hatem Bazian, 510-914-6722 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            510-914-6722      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, E-Mail: hatemb@berkeley.edu; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-744-7726      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-341-4171 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            202-341-4171      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

CAIR APPLAUDS LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN FOILING TEXAS BOMB PLOT

Statement on the LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN FOILING TEXAS BOMB PLOT from CAIR

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/24/11) -- The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today applauded the efforts of the FBI and members of the public in preventing an alleged bomb plot in Lubbock, Texas.

CAIR said a Saudi Arabian citizen living in Texas has been charged with plotting to bomb targets in the United States. The FBI was tipped off to the alleged plot by officials of a company from which the suspect ordered chemicals that could be used to build a bomb.

SEE: Saudi Student in Texas Arrested on Suspicion of Plotting Terror Attacks

In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:

"We applaud the efforts of the FBI, the Lubbock Police Department and all those who helped prevent this deadly plot from being carried out. Without public vigilance and swift action by law enforcement authorities, many Americans could have been killed or injured.
"We note that this case involves a foreign individual, was apparently planned before the suspect came to this country and was motivated by extremist views acquired outside the United States."

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.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com