CAIR Demands Congress End Anti-Black, Islamophobic Attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar

Join the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in calling on House members of Congress to reject the anti-Black and Islamophobic resolution being introduced by House Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to remove Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from here position on the House Foreign Affairs Committee for challenging the establishment and criticizing human rights violations that our government and other actors have committed in the Middle East.

In a separate effort, House Republican Representatives Michael Waltz, Jim Banks, and Claudia Tenney, are also introducing a resolution to censure Rep. Omar.

CLICK HERE: TAKE ACTION AND TELL CONGRESS: #IStandwithIlhan

https://action.cair.com/a/cair-action-alert-demand-congress-end-anti-black-islamophobic-attacks-rep-ilhan-omar

The U.S. House of Representatives is narrowly divided by three to four votes between Democratic and Republican members of Congress. Republicans and some Democrats are holding Rep. Omar to a racist double standard over her criticizing U.S. human rights abuses - taking advantage of the Democratic Party's emerging split over newfound support for Palestinian human rights - and introducing resolutions to censure Rep. Omar and remove her from her Foreign Affairs Committee position by simple majority.

"It is time for Congress to reject once and for all the agenda-driven attacks and racist double standards being used to attack Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and other minority members who dare to speak out on human rights violations in our nation and worldwide," said CAIR Director of Government Affairs Department Robert S. McCaw. "Democratic leadership and members of Congress must oppose Republican attempts to silence Representative Omar because they do not want to hear what a Black, immigrant, Muslim women has to say. This is exactly why we need voices like Omar's on the Foreign Affairs Committee."

On Thursday, CAIR condemned a dozen House Democrats for joining far-right voices in smearing Rep. Omar after she criticized human rights violations that our government and other actors have committed in the Middle East.

The U.S. House Progress Caucus also came out with a statement in defense of Rep. Omar:

"Rep. Omar is a deeply valued member of the Progressive Caucus. Her voice is critical and necessary, both in the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Democratic Caucus as a whole.

"We cannot ignore a right-wing media echo chamber that has deliberately and routinely attacked a Black, Muslim woman in Congress, distorting her views and intentions, and resulting in threats against Rep. Omar and her staff. We urge our colleagues not to abet or amplify such divisive and bad-faith tactics. Members of the Democratic Caucus owe it to each other to pause, reflect, and engage directly with each other when misunderstandings arise, and stand together against cynical attempts to divide our caucus."

CAIR also condemned a surge in death threats against the Minnesota congresswoman, and called on Capitol Police to ensure it is doing everything possible to protect her from extremist actors.

Three weeks ago, CAIR called on congressional leaders to condemn the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for running anti-Muslim ads targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar and other congressional colleagues who voiced opposition to Israel's most recent war crimes in Gaza.

Instead, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer lightly criticized the ads while reiterating support of Israel. In Rep. Hoyer's case, he went so far as to provide AIPAC strategic advice on "making the case to the American people" on behalf of Israel.

AIPAC's paid advertisement on Facebook displays an image of Omar with rockets raining down on Israel in the background. The image falsely claims that Omar said that when Israel targets Hamas, it's an "act of terrorism."

Omar actually stated that Israeli airstrikes killing civilians in Gaza is an act of terrorism and that Palestinians deserve protection.