(KANSAS CITY, KS, 11/03/17) -- On Saturday November 4, the Kansas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Kansas) will hold its First Civil Rights Banquet, with the theme "Living Our Faith -- Defending Freedom" at the DoubleTree Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas. The banquet has sold out and no tickets will be sold at the door. Some 400 Kansans of different faiths and backgrounds signed up to attend the event.

Banquet speakers include Nihad Awad, CAIR-National Co-Founder and Executive Director; Dr. Altaf Hussain, VP of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), and keynote speaker Khizr Khan, father of fallen U.S. Army Captain and Purple Heart recipient Humayun Khan, one of a number of American Muslim “Gold Star” parents nationwide.

At the event, CAIR-Kansas will also present the MVP (Most Valuable Partner) award to Kansas Interfaith Action (KIFA) a statewide, multi-faith issue-advocacy organization that “puts faith into action” by educating, engaging and advocating on behalf of people of faith and the public regarding critical social, economic, and climate justice issues, in recognition of the organizations work for justice throughout the state and its outstanding support of the Muslim community, helping breakdown stereotypes and building friends and allies across traditional divides.

(Kansas City, KS, 10/29/17) -- The Kansas chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR-Kansas) today condemned hate vandalism targeting an African-American church in Kansas City Missouri.

Someone broke into the Concord Fortress of Hope Church in Kansas City, Mo., early Sunday morning, starting a fire and vandalizing the front doors and windows defaced with racist graffiti, the letters “KKK” and what appeared to be a Nazi swastika.

CAIR: ATF Investigates Fire and Racist Graffiti at Predominantly Black Church in South Kansas City

“We condemn this apparent hate attack on a house of worship and express our solidarity with the Christian and African-American communities at this difficult time,” said CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy.

(WICHITA, KS, 9/18/17) -- The Kansas chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR-Kansas) today called for an “independent” investigation of both Emprise Bank and the Wichita Police Department following the traumatic arrest earlier this month of the Iraqi-American Muslim family for a “fraudulent check,” which was later determined to be valid.

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Man Says Family is ‘Living In Fear’ After He Was Handcuffed at Bank

“The conflicting statements from both Emprise Bank and law enforcement authorities are adding to the confusion rather than clarifying the situation,” said CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy.

He added: “Instead of hiding behind vague ‘policies and procedures’ that they claim were followed and vowing to do the same in a similar situation, they should come clean and explain what were the specific reasons for their actions. They should also re-examine those policies and procedures and make any necessary changes in the training of staff to avoid repeating this traumatic event with another family.”

Elbayoumy said CAIR-Kansas has been to trying to support the family during this difficult time, while waiting for explanations from those involved before exploring legal options.