(COLUMBUS, GA – 8/2/19) – The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Georgia) today joined Masjid Al Jannah and the Muslim community of Columbus, Ga., in condemning an act of anti-Semitic bigotry targeting a local synagogue.
According to the Columbus Police Department, two unidentified men wearing red baseball caps plastered eight signs promoting “PatriotFront.U.S.” on Temple Israel’s property on July 29, 2019. Among other things, the signs said “reclaim America” and “better dead than red.”
Patriot Front, which formed after the deadly white supremacist attacks in Charlottesville, has been described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist hate group that “rehabilitated the explicitly fascist agenda of Vanguard America with garish patriotism.”
SEE: Police Investigating Hate Crime at Columbus Synagogue
SEE: Columbus Police Release Surveillance Video of Hate Crime on Columbus Synagogues
According to the police department, similar signs were found at another synagogue months ago, but the incident was not publicly reported.
In a statement, CAIR-Georgia Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“We stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors against this white supremacist, anti-Semitic act of hatred and intimidation. Anti-Semitism is one of the world’s oldest and most persistent forms of bigotry, and it has returned with a vengeance in recent years because of the bigotry unleashed by politicians.
“To prevent future acts of hate, law enforcement must prosecute the persons responsible for this incident to the fullest extent of the law, our state legislature must finally pass a bill that recognizes hate crimes and our elected officials must stop weaponizing racism and bigotry to win votes.”
He said CAIR-Georgia is urging all houses of worship and faith-based and advocacy organizations to take extra security precautions as outlined in its “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet. The advice in this publication is applicable to all institutions, regardless of organizational mission.
The booklet may be viewed at: https://tinyurl.com/BestSafetyPractices
CAIR has condemned similar acts of anti-Semitic vandalism nationwide.
SEE: CAIR-Austin Condemns Neo-Nazi Vandalism Targeting Cedar Park Synagogue
https://www.cair.com/cair_austin_condemns_neo_nazi_vandalism_targeting_cedar_park_synagogue
CAIR-NJ Condemns Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found at Summit School
https://www.cair.com/cair_nj_condemns_anti_semitic_graffiti_found_at_summit_school
CAIR-NY Condemns Nazi Hate Vandalism, Arson Targeting Jewish Institution
https://www.cair.com/cair_ny_condemns_nazi_hate_vandalism_arson_targeting_jewish_institution
CAIR-LA Condemns Nazi Imagery at Teen Party
https://ca.cair.com/losangeles/news/cair-la-condemns-nazi-imagery-at-teen-party/
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 Georgia Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]