(SACRAMENTO, CA, 9/28/18) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the full Senate to reject Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Earlier today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of that nomination, despite serious allegations of sexual assault on the part of the nominee and after a contentious hearing yesterday during which a survivor of sexual assault, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, testified against Kavanaugh.
In a statement, CAIR National Board Chair Roula Allouch said:
“A lifelong appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court is a privilege and a duty, not a right. Based on Judge Kavanaugh’s overtly partisan and belligerent performance at yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, and on the credible accusations of sexual misconduct, we urge the full Senate to reject his nomination. The Senate should instead confirm a new nominee who has the temperament and neutrality necessary to pass judgment on the weightiest issues facing our nation now and for decades to come.”
CAIR also joined the American Bar Association, the largest national organization of lawyers, in urging the Senate to call for a renewed FBI investigation of the allegations against Kavanaugh.
SEE: American Bar Association: Kavanaugh’s Confirmation is “Simply Too Important to Rush”
On Friday, Senate Republicans and the White House agreed to delay the vote and open an investigation.
SEE: Trump orders FBI probe into Kavanaugh; Senate vote delayed
ACTION REQUESTED: MSG To U.S. Senate: Reject Kavanaugh’s Nomination to the Supreme Court
The Washington-based civil rights organization has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president.
CAIR California (CAIR-CA) found that there was a marked rise in anti-Muslim bias incidents in the state in 2017, as detailed in the new CAIR-CA Civil Rights Report. CAIR-CA recorded an 8 percent increase in anti-Muslim bias incidents in 2017 compared to 2016.
READ: 2018 CAIR-CA Civil Rights Report
CAIR Sacramento Valley’s Executive Director Basim Elkarra urged community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-SV’s Civil Rights Department at 916-441-6269 or by filing a report at http://bit.ly/cairsvreport.
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 Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com
