CAIR-MA Condemns Bomb Threats Targeting Worcester and Newton Jewish Community Centers

Press Release

(BOSTON, MA, 1/19/17) – The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) today condemned bomb threats against the Jewish Community Centers of Worcester and Newton, Mass. The bomb threat, which was made by telephone to the Center’s preschool, forced Jewish Community Center officials to evacuate the center on Wednesday morning. Police officers from multiple departments, including K-9 units, searched and cleared the building.

“American Muslims stand in solidarity with the Jewish communities in Worcester, Newton, and across Massachusetts,” said CAIR-MA Executive Director Dr. John Robbins. “Targeting any group because of their faith is never acceptable. CAIR-MA stands in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors and defends their right to worship freely.”

Also today, CAIR’s New York chapter condemned a similar threat made against a Jewish community center in Syracuse, NY.

Late last month, CAIR’s national office expressed solidarity with Montana’s Jewish communities after neo-Nazis announced plans to stage an armed, anti-Semitic march in that state. In that case, a leader of the neo-Nazi movement announced plans for the hate march in Whitefish, Montana “against Jews, Jewish businesses and everyone who supports either.”

That same month, CAIR’s Greater Los Angeles Area chapter expressed similar solidarity with the Christian community in that state following apparent hate vandalism targeting an Assyrian church in San Fernando, Calif.

CAIR and the American Muslim community has 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, violence, vandalism, arson, or bombings.

CAIR’s national headquarters in Washington, D.C., has noted an unprecedented spike in hate incidents targeting Muslims and other minority groups since the November 8 election.
Muslim community members are asked to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-NY at (646) 665-7599, or by filing a report at: http://www.cair-ny.org/incident-report/

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CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to 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.

CONTACT: CAIR-MA Executive Director Dr. John Robbins, 617-862-9159, jrobbins@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com