MEDIA ADVISORY
CAIR-HOUSTON to Cancel News Conference Reacting to U.S. Supreme Court ‘Muslim Ban’ Ruling and Later Rally/Protest
(HOUSTON, TX, 6/10/18) – The Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-HOUSTON), has cancelled the news conference it was to offer reaction to the anticipated U.S. Supreme Court decision on the legality of the Trump administration’s “Muslim Ban 3.0” when it is announced, pending the announcement. This morning SCOTUS has stated further decisions to be released Thursday. News conference will be scheduled accordingly.
Since the administration first attempted to ban Muslim immigration to the United States, CAIR has filed legal challenges to each version of the discriminatory and unconstitutional policy.
CAIR had filed a Supreme Court amicus (friend of the court) brief on behalf of six individuals who successfully obtained an injunction against Muslim Ban 3.0 from a federal court in Maryland.
SEE: CAIR Files Amicus Brief in Supreme Court’s Muslim Ban 3.0 Case
The brief — filed in the wake of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit’s decision in February declaring Trump’s Muslim ban unconstitutional – stated in part: “The injuries suffered by the [plaintiffs] are beyond the pale. If they are beyond the power of the courts to remedy, we fear for what is yet to come.”
[NOTE: CAIR and the Brennan Center for Justice filed the lawsuit in October 2017. On appeal, that case, Zakzok v. Trump, was consolidated with two others and was jointly decided by the Fourth Circuit.]
In December of last year, CAIR applauded the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ unanimous decision against the Trump administration’s “Muslim Ban 3.0.”
CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president and since his administration’s attempts to implement the Muslim Ban.
The Washington-based organization’s recently-released 2018 Civil Rights Report, “Targeted,” showed a 17 percent increase in bias-motivated incidents against American Muslims from 2016 to 2017, and a 15 percent increase in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes in that same time period.
2018 Civil Rights Report: Targeted
Community members are being urged to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR’s Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or at: https://www.cair.com/report
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-HOUSTON Communications Coordinator Sobia Siddiqui, 832-782-3141, ssiddiqui@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com
