CAIR Condemns Bombing of Texas Church
(HOUSTON, TEXAS, 5/11/18) — The Houston office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) today condemned the package-bombing of Beaumont Episcopal Church.
A package left on the steps of the church exploded between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, breaking several windows and without injuring anyone.
“We are very blessed that no one was injured,” the rector, the Rev. Steven Balke, said in a separate statement released by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. “We appreciate everyone’s prayers at this time. It has made everyone very nervous.
SEE: Package detonates outside Texas church weeks after unexploded bomb found in the same city
“We condemn violent acts targeting any house of worship and are relieved to hear that no one was hurt in this potentially-deadly attack,” said CAIR-Houston Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll.
A similar explosive device, that did not go off, was found two weeks earlier at a Starbucks in Beaumont. A Starbucks employee called the police upon reading the attached note.
All this takes place just weeks after a series of package bombs were sent out in the Austin area killing two and injuring several others. The bomber killed himself with one of his own bombs before police could make an arrest.
CAIR is offering houses of worship of all faiths free copies of its booklet, “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety.”
A hard copy of the booklet may be requested through CAIR’s website at: http://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.html
It may also be viewed at: http://www.cair.com/images/publications/CAIR_Mosque_Safety_Guide.pdf
CAIR and the American Muslim community have in the past expressed solidarity with Jewish, Christian, Native American, African-American, and Sikh communities in New Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Alabama, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and other states following acts of hate, threats, violence, vandalism, arson, or bombings.
The Houston-based civil rights and advocacy organization urges community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR’s Civil Rights Department at 713-838-2247 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/report
CAIR recently launched an app to share critical “know your rights” information and to simplify the process to report hate crimes and bias incidents. CAIR is urging American Muslims and members of other minority groups to download the app and utilize this resource to stay informed and empowered.
For a quick download of CAIR’s civil rights app, click here: http://www.cair.com/app
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.
– END –
CONTACT: CAIR-Houston Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll, 832-549-1042, mcarroll@cair.com ; CAIR-Houston Communications Coordinator Sobia Siddiqui, 832-782-3141, ssiddiqui@cair.com ; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com
