(FRESNO, CA, 12/06/2020) – The Central California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CC) today condemned racist vandalism targeting a Black-owned business in Fresno and called for a hate crime investigation.
READ: Noose, racial epithet create sense of violation at vandalized Black-owned Tower District gym (Fresno Bee)
On Saturday morning at Iron Bird Fitness in the Tower District, a toy skeleton was discovered tied to the front door with a string around it and the n-word was scratched into the door, according to owner Sam Akoidu and The Bee.
Akoidu posted a response to the incident on Instagram on Saturday.
In a statement, CAIR-CC Outreach Director Sukaina Hussain said:
“We condemn this disturbing racist vandalism and urge police to investigate this incident as a hate crime. Amid an apparent rise in hate incidents, it is more important than ever for us to come together, confront and call out racism every time we see it.”
Hussain urged community members to report any bias incidents to law enforcement and to CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California’s Civil Rights Department at 916-441-6269 or by filing a report at bit.ly/cairsvcccivilrights.
CAIR-CC is an office of CAIR, 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.
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CONTACT:
Outreach Director Sukaina Hussain, s.hussain@cair.com, 916-441-6269