WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–AUgust 4, 2015. – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed solidarity with the Christian community in New Mexico following a pair of bombings yesterday targeting churches in that state.
CAIR also urged that the bombings be investigated as possible hate crimes and that local police step up patrols in the vicinity of both churches.
The blasts occurred about a half hour apart in Las Cruces, N.M., near Calvary Baptist Church and Holy Cross Catholic Church. No one was hurt in the explosions.
SEE: Sunday Morning Explosions at 2 NM Churches Stun Congregants
http://www.religionnews.com/2015/08/03/sunday-morning-explosions-at-2-n-m-churches-stun-congregants/
“Whenever and wherever a house of worship is targeted by violence, Americans of all faiths and backgrounds must join together in supporting the impacted community,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “Because houses of worship were targeted, we urge local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for the bombings.”
Last month, CAIR’s Florida chapter expressed solidarity with a church community in Melbourne, Fla., that has been targeted three times by vandals, with the latest incident including “Charleston 2” graffiti that apparently referred to the recent terror attack at an African-American church in Charleston, S.C., that left nine people dead.
CAIR also recently expressed similar solidarity with the African-American Christian community following a series of fires at predominantly black churches following the Charleston church attack.
SEE: CAIR Stands with African-American Christians Following Church Fires
In California, CAIR’s Sacramento Valley chapter stood with Fresno Christians following the possibly bias-motivated vandalism at a Christian school.
SEE: CAIR Stands with Fresno Christians After Vandals Paint Graffiti at Fresno Christian Schools
CAIR is offering to send its publication, “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety,” to leaders of houses of worship of all faiths.
That booklet, which was published in response to previous attacks on American Muslim institutions, contains safety information applicable to any institution and may be requested through CAIR’s website: http://www.cair.com/mosque-safety-guide.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.
Source: www.cair.com
