(ATLANTA, GA, 6/22/16) – The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-GA) today called on federal and local authorities to investigate and monitor James Stachowiak, an extremist who threatened violence against Georgia Muslims while carrying a weapon and desecrating a Quran, Islam’s holy text, outside an Augusta, Ga., mosque.
In a video posted online June 13, Stochowiak stands in front of the Islamic Society of Augusta as he says, “Death to Islam. F-ck Islam. F-ck this mosque right here. And you, Imam Dooadi (sic), you Syrian immigrant…”
During his 8-minute rant, Stochowiak alternates between expressing a hatred of Muslims, demanding their deportation, calling for the army to discharge all American Muslim soldiers, and, ultimately, calling for violence.
“Take a stand against Islam today, people,” Stochowiak says at the conclusion of his video, with a gun at his side. “We don’t have much time left. The time for talk is over. The time for war has begun. Blessed be the Lord my rock who trains my hand for battle and my fingers for war.”
Watch the video.
“Such language could easily constitute a terroristic threat,” said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, a former criminal prosecutor who serves as executive director of CAIR-GA. “If bigoted extremists want to criticize my faith or fish fry holy books for breakfast, they have the constitutional right to do so. But extremists do not have the right to trespass at a peaceful house of worship while carrying a gun and calling for war against their neighbors.”
During the video, Stachowiak also observes an American Muslim driving toward the mosque, and steps into the road as the car passes him.
“This is absolutely unacceptable,” Mitchell said. “If an armed Muslim extremist stood outside a church, desecrated a Bible, and called for war against Christianity, that extremist would be under constant surveillance by law enforcement. We call on law enforcement to monitor, investigate and prosecute this man before he does exactly what he says he wants to do: wage war.”
In a separate video posted on YouTube on April 30, 2016, Stachowiak engages in a debate with a fellow customer at a Wal-Mart about Islam and American Muslims. During the discussion (time stamp 4:06 mark) Stachowiak declares, “My language is people should burn mosques, kill all Muslims. They started a war in America.”
Watch the video.
In April this year, Stachowiak held an armed anti-Islam rally outside the Georgia State Capitol. Only one person showed up alongside him. He also called for “lone wolf patriots” to join him at the GOP convention to confront Black Lives Matter demonstrators.
SEE: Ex-Cop Urges ‘Lone Wolf Patriots’ to Attack Black Lives Matter Activists at GOP Convention
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.
If you believe your rights have been violated, you may call CAIR’s Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or email [email protected].
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CONTACT: Edward Ahmed Mitchell; 404-285-9530; [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]