Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is attending today’s funeral for Michael Brown, the unarmed African-American teenager who was shot to death by police in Ferguson, Mo.
Watch the Funeral Live
“I believe it is important for all Americans to show their support for racial equality and social justice and to be part of the national dialogue on these important issues,” said Awad.
Last week, CAIR joined the NAACP and other civil rights groups in calling for a special prosecutor to investigate the shooting.
CAIR representatives also took part in a national American Muslim call-in discussion of the Michael Brown and joined almost 100 national civil rights groups, coordinated by The Leadership Conference and Civil and Human Rights, in calling for federal action to prevent discriminatory profiling.
SEE: National American Muslim Call-In on Ferguson, Michael Brown Movement
CAIR: Almost 100 Organizations Call for Federal Action to Prevent Discriminatory Profiling
Previously, CAIR’s St. Louis chapter called for a federal probe of the shooting and CAIR called on Muslim prayer leaders nationwide to devote their Friday sermons to the issues of racial equality and social justice.
SEE: CAIR-St. Louis Asks Feds to Probe Police Shooting of Unarmed Black Teen
CAIR Asks Imams to Devote Sermons to Racial Equality in Response to Missouri Police Shooting
Video: CAIR-MI Director Discusses Protests of Michael Brown Shooting in Ferguson
CAIR-CT: ‘Black is Not a Crime’ Rally to Be Held Today in New London
Ferguson Tension: American Muslims Will Relate
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.