Posted by cair on May 21, 2003 at 11:30:51:
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The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) of Sacramento Valley
has responded to API leaders' call to support the Assembly Joint Resolution
30, which condemns the remarks of Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC) made in a
radio program in February 2003. In his remarks, Mr. Coble justified the
Internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. In the same program he
defended the racial profile of Muslims and Arab Americans.
The California Assembly will vote on this Resolution on Monday May 19.
The Council on American Islamic Relations, (CAIR) California, Sacramento
Valley, Southern California and Northern California have been working with
the API Legislative Caucus of the California Assembly. Today, CAIR has
issued an Action alert as well as a Press Release. (See below)
Please contact your Assemblymember and urge him/her to support the AJR 30.
Please forward this to your own mailing lists.
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Action Alert
Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR)
Muslims stand with Asian & Pacific Islander Community to condemn Japanese
internment
Community urged to contact CA Legislators to Support resolution against
Coble statements
(Anaheim, CA - 5/15/2003) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations -
California (CAIR-CA) urges the Muslim community to stand in solidarity with
the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community in its support of Joint
Resolution by California Legislature (AJR 30) to condemn the remarks by
Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC), Chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on
Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.
On 2/4/03, Rep. Coble publicly voiced his agreement with the internment of
innocent Japanese - American citizens during WWII, even going so far as to
justify it as being for their benefit. This is despite the incredible losses
of homes, property, businesses, freedom, and liberty people suffered. This
resulted in the stripping of over 100,000 innocent people of their rights,
confining them for years, and causing them to lose their homes and property
and businesses and jobs.
CAIR issued a statement on 2/5/2003 calling on Rep. Coble to clarify his
remarks. The statement read in part 'The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR) today called on Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) to clarify remarks
he made on a radio program agreeing with the internment of
Japanese-Americans in WWII and implying that he would approve of similar
treatment for Arab-Americans. Coble should clarify his remarks and pledge
that he would oppose any internment proposal for Muslims or Arab-Americans.'
Congressman Coble's comments reflect a deep ignorance about the injustice of
ethnic profiling and stereotyping. Despite his belated and hollow statement
of 'apology,' on February 10, voicing 'regret that many Japanese Americans
and Arab Americans found [his] choice of words offensive,' Congressman Coble
has not recanted his support of President Roosevelt's action in signing
Executive Order 9066. His continued inability to grasp the
unconstitutionality and injustice of the internment perpetuates ignorance
and justification for discrimination among his own constituency and
similarly-minded individuals across the country.
1) Contact your local member of the state Senate and Assembly and request
them support AJR 30. Write a letter, fax, E-Mail, or Call.
- PLEASE COPY, POST, DISTRIBUTE, and announce -
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Press Release
Council on American-Islamic Relations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUSLIMS SUPPORT CA LEGISLATION AGAINST COBLE STATEMENTS
Muslim Community stands with Asian Pacific Islanders to condemn Japanese
internment
(Anaheim, CA - 5/15/2003) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations -
California (CAIR-CA) today expressed the Muslim community's solidarity with
the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community in its support of Joint
Resolution by California Legislature (AJR 30) to condemn the remarks by
Congressman Howard Coble (R-NC), Chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on
Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.
On 2/4/03, Rep. Coble publicly voiced his agreement with the internment of
innocent Japanese - American citizens during WWII, even going so far as to
justify it as being for their benefit. This is despite the incredible losses
of homes, property, businesses, freedom, and liberty people suffered. This
resulted in the stripping of over 100,000 innocent people of their rights,
confining them for years, and causing them to lose their homes and property
and businesses and jobs.
CAIR- CA issued a statement on 2/5/2003 calling on Rep. Coble to clarify his
remarks. The statement read in part:
'The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on Rep.
Howard Coble (R-NC) to clarify remarks he made on a radio program agreeing
with the internment of Japanese-Americans in WWII and implying that he would
approve of similar treatment for Arab-Americans. Coble should clarify his
remarks and pledge that he would oppose any internment proposal for Muslims
or Arab-Americans.'
Congressman Coble's comments reflect a deep ignorance about the injustice of
ethnic profiling and stereotyping. Despite his belated and hollow statement
of 'apology,' on February 10, voicing 'regret that many Japanese Americans
and Arab Americans found [his] choice of words offensive,' Congressman Coble
has not recanted his support of President Roosevelt's action in signing
Executive Order 9066. His continued inability to grasp the
unconstitutionality and injustice of the internment perpetuates ignorance
and justification for discrimination among his own constituency and
similarly-minded individuals across the country.
CAIR-CA has called on the Muslim community to contact their State
Assemblymembers and Senators to support the resolution.
Contact: CAIR-Sacramento: Rashid Ahmad (916) 803-7224, E-MAILL:
sacval@cair.com
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