EVENT/ACTION ALERT: CAIR-CHICAGO HOSTS PUBLIC VIEWING OF SENATE HATE CRIMES HEARING

WHAT: CAIR-Chicago is hosting a public viewing of the Senate hate crimes hearing chaired by Sen. Dick Durbin
WHEN: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 1:00 PM
WHERE: CAIR-Chicago, 28 E. Jackson Blvd., 17th floor, Chicago, IL

CAIR-Chicago commends the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights for holding a hearing on Hate Crimes & Domestic Extremism taking place this Wednesday, September 19, 2012 in Washington D.C. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) will be chairing the hearing.

SEE: Senate Hearing on “Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Extremism”

CALL: Thank Senator Durbin for hosting a critical hearing on hate crimes and domestic extremism

(CAIR-Chicago is asking grateful citizens to call and thank Sen. Dick Durban for holding this crucial hearing)

CAIR Chicago submitted written testimony for the record and is inviting members of the public to join us in watching the hearing live at our office at 28 E. Jackson Blvd., on the 17th floor. This event is open to the public, and RSVP information is below. This event is being co-sponsored by the Asian American Institute, the Indian American Bar Association and the Muslim Bar Association.

At 1pm, Alderman Ameya Pawar of the 47th ward will be discussing the recent City of Chicago Resolution against hate and how it relates to the Senate hearing. CAIR-Chicago commends the efforts of Ald. Pawar in introducing and working on the Chicago resolution condemning hate attacks, and in requesting continued collaboration between government and community groups in combating bigotry and violence.

SEE: Anti-hate resolution approved by Chicago City Council

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing is in response to recent string of deadly and violent hate incidents targeting Sikh and Muslim Americans and their institutions and houses of worship. The hearing was prompted by the written request of more than 150 civil rights and advocacy organizations, led by the Sikh Coalition, of which the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its state chapters were a part of.

SEE: Coalition Letter Request for Hearing on Hate Crimes and Hate Groups in the United States

The hearing will receive witness testimony from Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, among other experts, examining the recent rise in hate crimes and the proliferation of hate groups in the United States. CAIR-Chicago has submitted a statement for the record addressing the recent hate attacks against the Muslim American community in Chicago in August and September 2012.

SEE: FBI Hate Crime Statistics
SEE: Southern Poverty Law Center – Hate Map

RSVP for Public Viewing of Senate Hearing to Rabya Khan at: rabya.khan@cair.com, or (312) 212-1520