CAIR: June 10 Anti-Islam Hate Rallies Show Convergence of White Supremacism, Islamophobia

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today pointed to anti-Islam rallies planned nationwide on Saturday, June 10, as further evidence of the growing cooperation between white supremacist, neo-Nazi, anti-government, and Islamophobic hate groups.

CAIR said it is assisting local communities in responding to the hate rallies with peaceful educational events and activities focused on promoting mutual understanding and challenging bigotry. [NOTE: To learn more about local responses to the hate rallies, contact the nearest CAIR chapter by going to: http://www.cair.com/cair-chapters.html ]

SEE: Map of June 10 Anti-Muslim Protests
http://imagine2050.newcomm.org/2017/05/22/anti-muslim-march-against-sharia-planned/

The leading sponsor of the rallies, Brigitte Gabriel's ACT for America, has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The SPLC has named "Brigitte Gabriel" as a member of the nation's "Anti-Muslim Inner Circle."

Gabriel has argued that, "America is at stage two Islamic Cancer." She believes "every practicing Muslim is a radical Muslim," a Muslim "cannot be a loyal citizen of the United States," and that Arabs "have no soul."

CAIR Islamophobia Monitor: ACT for America
http://www.islamophobia.org/islamophobic-orgs/act-for-america.html 
SPLC: Anti-Muslim Inner Circle
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/act-america

"Act for America is a hate group. Period. Its rallies are hate marches. Full stop," said Corey Saylor, director of CAIR's Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia. "We encourage all Americans who value religious freedom and reject bigotry to take part in peaceful and lawful local activities challenging these hate rallies."

Video: ACT for America is a Hate Group, Plain and Simple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2BubWrtKHQ

Saylor noted that ACT for America's official Facebook page promoting the hate rallies is full of racist and violent content targeting Islam and Muslims.

SEE: ACT for America's "March Against Sharia" Official Facebook Page Full of Racist Anti-Muslim Sentiment
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/05/23/act-americas-march-against-sharia-official-facebook-page-full-racist-anti-muslim-sentiment

The hate rally in Arkansas is being organized by longtime neo-Nazi Billy Roper. Roper promoted the event on a neo-Nazi message board founded by a former Ku Klux Klan leader. He claims that representatives of his network will take part in ACT for America rallies in Indiana, New York, California, and Texas.

SEE: Neo-Nazi Billy Roper Organizing ACT for America's "March Against Sharia" in Arkansas
http://tinyurl.com/ArkansasNeoNazi 

Joey Gibson, a leader of the group "Patriot Prayer," is helping to organize the ACT for America rally in Seattle. Jeremy Joseph Christian, who allegedly stabbed to death two men who came to the defense of a Muslim woman recently in Portland, Ore., attended one of that group's rallies. Gibson acknowledged that some rallies attracted "legitimate Nazis."

SEE: Portland Uneasy; Suspect Shouts 'You've Got No Safe Place!' 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/portland-mayor-calls-for-cancellation-of-free-speech-rally/2017/05/29/e94965c0-44ce-11e7-8de1-cec59a9bf4b1_story.html 

Anti-government and racist groups such as Oath Keepers, Proud Boys, American Civil Defense, Three Percenters, and White Lives Matter are also supporting the ACT for America hate rallies.

SEE: White Supremacists Are Planning a Day of Action Against Muslims
http://www.carbonated.tv/news/white-supremacists-are-planning-a-day-of-action-against-muslims

ACT for America's anti-Muslim bigotry was highlighted recently in a Washington Post exposé.

SEE: This group believes Islam threatens America: 'It's a spiritual battle of good and evil.'
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/this-group-believes-islam-threatens-america-its-a-spiritual-battle-of-good-and-evil/2017/02/16/3e5108c2-ed57-11e6-9662-6eedf1627882_story.html     

The SPLC has documented the merging of racist, anti-government and other troubling sentiment with ACT's Islamophobia.

The Batesville, Ark., leader of ACT has advocated stoning "rebellious children" and executing prisoners "that cannot be rehabilitated in two years." The head of ACT's 5280 Coalition "left a comment on Counter-Currents, an overtly anti -Semitic website and publishing house run by white nationalist Greg Johnson."

SEE: SPLC's ACT for America Fires Prominent Chapter Leader, But Many Racists Remain
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/03/09/act-america-fires-prominent-chapter-leader-many-racists-remain

ACT FOR America's hate rallies are reminiscent of John Ritzheimer's 2015 "Global Rally for Humanity." Ritzheimer instructed participants to hold events at mosques and urged them to come armed. He subsequently pled guilty to felony charges after taking part in the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by anti-government activists.

SEE: CAIR Asks Mosques Nationwide to Take Added Safety Measures Prior to Anti-Islam Rallies October 10
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13175-cair-asks-mosques-nationwide-to-take-added-safety-measures-prior-to-anti-islam-rallies-october-10.html

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil rights 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.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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CONTACT: CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, csaylor@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Coordinator Zainab Arain, 202-742-6410, zarain@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)