CAIR Welcomes Withdrawal of Anti-Islam Speaker from West Point Event

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed the withdrawal of an anti-Islam speaker, retired Lieutenant General William G. "Jerry" Boykin, from an upcoming prayer breakfast at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

CAIR recently joined with VoteVets.org, a coalition of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, in asking the academy to retract an invitation because of Boykin's Islamophobic views, which include a belief that "[Islam] should not be protected under the First Amendment," that there should be "no mosques in America" and that there can be no interfaith dialogue or cooperation between Muslims and Christians.

CAIR: Islam Critic Backs Out of West Point Cadet Event (AP)
http://tinyurl.com/8262zeq

Islamophobic General has Withdrawn from Prayer Breakfast
http://tinyurl.com/896gv6w

"We welcome Mr. Boykin's withdrawal from this event and hope that the speaker who replaces him will offer cadets a spiritual message that promotes tolerance and mutual understanding," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

Awad added that CAIR has been challenging Boykin's un-American bigotry for a number of years.

On Friday, CAIR issued an action alert calling on American Muslims and other people of conscience to contact the academy's superintendent to ask that he rescind Boykin's invitation.

CAIR Action Alert: Ask West Point to Disinvite Anti-Islam Speaker
http://tinyurl.com/7bqq2em

CAIR and People For the American Way objected to a recent speech Boykin gave to a mayor's prayer breakfast in Maryland. Hundreds of people contacted city officials to protest Boykin's appearance.

CAIR: Invited for Prayer Breakfast, General Avoids Talk of Islam
http://tinyurl.com/7vx9mon  

CAIR: An Army Officer, Years On, Still a Lightning Rod (Wash. Post)
http://tinyurl.com/6vrs6oq  

Editorial: Religious Bigotry in Ocean City? (Baltimore Sun)
http://tinyurl.com/8a3w4fc

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.

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http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe

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http://twitter.com/cairnational  

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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: [email protected] 

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

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