CAIR Calls on South Dakota GOP to Drop Sponsorship of Event Featuring Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorist

WASHINGTON, June 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the Republican Party in South Dakota to drop its sponsorship of an event this evening featuring notorious Islamophobe and anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist John Guandolo, and co-sponsored by the anti-Islam hate group ACT for America. [NOTE: The event is co-sponsored by Pennington County Republicans.]

CAIR: South Dakota GOP Hosts Event with Islamophobic Conspiracy Theorist and Anti-Islam Hate Group
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2017-06-15/human-rights-racial-justice/protests-planned-for-event-held-by-anti-muslim-group/a58050-1  

Last Saturday, ACT for America sponsored a series of anti-Islam rallies nationwide that were far overshadowed by counter-demonstrators who outnumbered the Islamophobes and their white supremacist and anti-government allies.

CAIR Calls Nationwide Anti-Islam Rallies a 'Bust,' Says Counter-Protests Far Overshadowed Hate Marches
https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14406-cair-calls-nationwide-anti-islam-rallies-a-bust-says-counter-protests-far-overshadowed-hate-marches.html

"Following yesterday's terror attack on members of Congress and their staff in Virginia, it is more important than ever to repudiate the promotion of conspiracy theories and bigotry targeting any segment of our society," said CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw. "We call on the Republican Party in South Dakota to drop its sponsorship of this hate event and to instead reach out to that state's Muslim community to help promote mutual understanding and religious inclusion."

McCaw noted that CAIR recently welcomed a decision by the Mesa Police Department in Mesa, Ariz., that a recent "training" by Guandolo will be the "last time" for such an event.

CAIR Good News Alert: Arizona Police Department Says 'Last Time' for Training by Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorist John Guandolo
https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14326-cair-good-news-alert-arizona-police-department-says-last-time-for-training-by-anti-muslim-conspiracy-theorist-john-guandolo.html  

Among his many bizarre and Islamophobic claims, Guandolo has falsely claimed that:

• U.S. mosques are planning armed attacks on law enforcement authorities and churches,
• the Black Lives Matter movement is funded by "enemies of the United States,"
• when a Delaware Imam (Islamic religious leader) touched his nose during the pledge of allegiance before a legislative session it was part of "civilizational jihad,"
• former CIA Director John Brennan was a secret Muslim,
• Muslims are "obligated" to lie,
• Muslim hotel managers, cabbies and 7-11 workers seek to take over America,
• it is "unprofessional" for officials to seek information about Islam from Islamic religious leaders (imams).

CAIR recently said Guandolo is putting local Muslim communities at risk by making the false claim that, "Mosques/Islamic Centers are organizing for armed confrontation with law enforcement, shoring up physical defenses where they see likely confrontation and increasing their pre-attack surveillances of churches and other targets."

John Guandolo: Indict Journalists - Muslim Hotel Managers, Cabbies, 7-11 Workers Seek U.S. Takeover
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-NMLtiwfZM 
Audio: Islamophobe John Guandolo Claims Mosques, MSA Chapters Seek 'Overthrow' of U.S. Government
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=645fIfXjdp8 
Video: John Guandolo Claims Muslims are 'Obligated' to Lie, Talking to Imams is 'Unprofessional'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juQj8FDINz0   
Audio/Video: Islamophobes John Guandolo, Chris Gaubatz Smear Mosques, Say BLM is Funded by 'Enemies' of U.S.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR4VgC0Yf_Y 
CAIR Islamophobia Monitor: John Guandolo
http://islamophobia.org/islamophobic-individuals/john-guandolo/75-john-guandolo.html 
Video: Islamophobe John Guandolo Claims CIA Director John Brennan is a Secret Muslim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aieUdwZoYMg 
Guandolo: Delaware Imam Touching His Nose is Part of Civilizational Jihad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq2IL2oJsQE

Backgrounder on Islamophobe John Guandolo:

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization that tracks hate groups in America, describes Guandolo as "a disreputable character, who regularly attacks the U.S. government, claims that the director of the Central Intelligence Agency is a secret Muslim agent for the Saudi government and says that American Muslims 'do not have a First Amendment right to do anything.'"

According to the SPLC, "Guandolo works closely with ACT! for America, the largest grassroots anti-Muslim group in the country." ACT for America's anti-Muslim bigotry was highlighted recently in a Washington Post exposé.

SEE: This group believes Islam threatens America: 'It's a spiritual battle of good and evil.'
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/this-group-believes-islam-threatens-america-its-a-spiritual-battle-of-good-and-evil/2017/02/16/3e5108c2-ed57-11e6-9662-6eedf1627882_story.html    

Last year, a Texas college canceled a similar event. The college's decision came following a request by CAIR's Dallas-Fort Worth chapter.

SEE: Texas College Cancels Controversial Law Enforcement Training Event Led by 'Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorist'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/texas-college-cancels-controversial-law-enforcement-training-event-led-by-anti-muslim-conspiracy-a7061731.html
Ex-FBI Agent John Guandolo to Host Anti-Muslim Training at Texas College
http://imagine2050.newcomm.org/2016/05/31/fbi-agent-guandolo-islamophobia-training-texas-college/  
CAIR-Dallas Asks College to Cancel Law Enforcement 'Training' by Islamophobe John Guandolo
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13562-cair-dallas-asks-college-to-cancel-law-enforcement-training-by-islamophobe-john-guandolo.html

In 2015, CAIR welcomed the withdrawal of an FBI representative from an event in Texas that was initially sponsored by the anti-Muslim hate group ACT! for America and featured Guandolo.

SEE: FBI Withdraws from Texas Event Initially Sponsored by Hate Group and Featuring Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorist
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12832-fbi-withdraws-from-texas-event-sponsored-by-hate-group.html

Virginia's Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy rescinded its approval of in-service training credits for state law enforcement scheduled to attend a training Guandolo was conducting in Culpeper, Va., after being made aware of his anti-Islam rhetoric.

SEE: Virginia Agency Pulls Accreditation for Anti-Muslim Training
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12387-virginia-agency-pulls-accreditation-for-anti-muslim-training.html       

A sheriff in Kansas decided not to partner with a citizens group sponsoring a Guandolo training after being informed of his conspiracy theories. When a journalist at Kansas' Wichita Eagle covered the controversy, Guandolo accused the reporter of material support of terrorism.

SEE: Kansas Sheriff Won't Partner on Training by John Guandolo
http://www.cair.com/press-center/cair-in-the-news/12503-kansas-sheriff-wont-partner-on-training-by-john-guandolo.html       

A number of Arizona police departments decided not to send officers to one of Guandolo's trainings.

CAIR: Arizona Police Departments Drop Out of Islamophobic Training
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12655-arizona-police-departments-drop-out-of-islamophobic-training.html      

Guandolo left the FBI shortly after reports surfaced that he had allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with a key witness in a corruption trial targeting a member of Congress. In addition he is documented as having falsified his credentials and work experience.

Major General Tony Cucolo, Commandant of the US Army War College, informed CAIR in an email: "Mr. Guandolo's claim (in print) that he teaches at the Army War College and any other references (e.g., online) identifying him as an adjunct instructor here are simply untrue."

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is asking Muslim community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/civil-rights/report-an-incident/view/form.html

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.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected] 

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

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