CAIR-Kansas Calls for Firing of Wichita Police Officers Over Racist, Violent Messages

Muslim civil rights group says department must commit to ‘concrete action and change’ 

(KANSAS CITY, 3/21/2022) – The Kansas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Kansas) today called for the dismissal of several Wichita police officers who reportedly sent racist, violent messages mocking George Floyd and glorifying police shootings.  

The messages were allegedly sent between a small group of Wichita-area law enforcement officers in a private chat. One message sent by a Wichita police officer included an image mocking the killing of George Floyd. Another message sent by a Sedgwick Co. sheriff’s deputy included an image of Elmer Fudd with a caption that read “be very very quiet I’m hunting (racial slur).” A message from another deputy praised SWAT team members who “permanently deescalated people who needed permanent de-escalation.”  

The officer who sent the message mocking George Floyd, the deputy who sent the message about de-escalation, and several officers and deputies who responded positively to that message have been involved in shootings or killings of civilians.  

Three sheriff’s deputies who sent racist messages have been fired. The Wichita officer who sent the Floyd image was disciplined under a bad judgment policy but remains on the force. The officers who responded positively to the de-escalation message were given mentoring and coaching, and one resigned of his own volition.

SEE: Leaked messages: Wichita-area officers sent racist memes, talked about shooting people 

https://www.kansas.com/news/local/article259423154.html

In a statement, CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy said: 

“The messages reportedly sent by these Wichita officers are appalling and completely beyond the pale of acceptability for people tasked with protecting and serving diverse communities. The fact that some of these individuals were allegedly involved in shootings and killings of citizens makes this case all the more alarming.  

“These officers must be dismissed and an investigation into their past conduct, including their involvement in shootings, must be launched. It’s time for the department to commit to concrete action and change.” 

He said the American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Asian and anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.  

SEE: CAIR Urges Alabama Senate to Reject Bill Banning Anti-Racism Teaching 

CAIR-Massachusetts Welcomes Passage of Bill Banning Hairstyle Discrimination 

CAIR Calls for Dismissal of U. Montana Professor Over Anti-Muslim, Racist Comments 

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.            

END

CONTACT: CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy, 785-318-6323, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

CAIR-Kansas Welcomes Guilty Plea in Racist Knife Threat to Black Minor

https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ksman-300x157.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 497px) 100vw, 497px"

(WASHINGTON D.C., 2/14/2022) – The Kansas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Kansas), today welcomed a guilty plea by a man who threatened a Black minor with a knife for being in a “white town.” 

Colton Donner, is facing up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 after pleading guilty to federal hate crime charges. The charges are in relation to an incident that occurred in Paola, Kan. in 2019, in which Donner threatened a Black minor with a knife and called him racial slurs. He told the minor that Paola was a “white town.” 

SEE: KS man pleads guilty to hate crime after threatening Black minor with knife 

https://news.yahoo.com/ks-man-pleads-guilty-hate-184112492.html

“We welcome the guilty plea in this disturbing case as evidence that our justice can work for those who have been targeted by racial hatred and bigotry,” said CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy. “As violent racism continues to rise nationwide, we urge law enforcement authorities to take all bias-motivated crimes seriously and for prosecutors to bring charges that acknowledge the seriousness of hate crimes.” 

Elbayoumy said the American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.   

SEE: CAIR Condemns Racist ‘Zoombombing’ Targeting Black Maryland County Official  

CAIR Calls on DOJ to Launch ‘Independent and Transparent’ Probe of Alaska Police-Shooting of Somali Muslim 

CAIR Joins Call for Hate Crime Probe of Attempted Shooting of Black Man in Mississippi, Welcomes Hate Crime Conviction for Threats Targeting Black Woman in Delaware 

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.            

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.           

END

CONTACT: CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy, 785-318-6323,CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

CAIR-Kansas Calls on Governor Laura Kelly to Issue an Executive Order Allowing City’s to Remove Racist Language From Property Documents 

https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/roeland-300x156.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 495px) 100vw, 495px"

(KANSAS CITY, KS, 12/29/2021) – The Kansas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Kansas) today called on Governor Laura Kelly to issue an executive order allowing the Roeland Park, Kan., and other cities throughout the state to remove racist, discriminatory language from property documents.  

Roeland Park leaders are looking for ways to remove racist and discriminatory language from property-related documents on homes throughout the city. Prohibitions on selling, renting, and leasing property to members of minority communities were found in plats, deeds, covenants, and restriction agreements written by homeowner organizations. Some city officials expressed opposition to the efforts, citing high costs for removing the language.  

City Attorney Steven Mauer said the easiest and most cost-effective way to remove the racist and discriminatory language would be through legislation allowing the Recorder of Deeds to do so without having to go through other processes.  

SEE: Roeland Park considers removing racist language from property records  

https://fox4kc.com/news/roeland-park-reviews-options-to-remove-racist-language-from-property-records/

In a statement, CAIR-Kansas Board Chairman Moussa Elbayoumy said: 

“It is unacceptable that racist, discriminatory language continues to be present in property documents. Governor Kelly should immediately issue an executive order allowing for the swift removal of such content from property documents in Roeland Park and statewide. Doing so would be a step toward ensuring equal housing opportunities for all citizens.” 

He noted that CAIR supported proposed legislation in Wyoming that would remove racially discriminatory covenants from housing deeds. 

SEE: CAIR Supports Wyoming Bill to Remove Racist Housing Covenants 

Last year, CAIR welcomed Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s signing of a new law giving localities the power to repeal racist language in Virginia’s Acts of Assembly. 

SEE: CAIR Welcomes Virginia Governor’s Signing of Laws Allowing Removal of Confederate Monuments, Repealing Racist Language 

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.            

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.           

END 

CONTACT: CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy, 785-318-6323,CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 

(KANSAS CITY, 9/27/2021) – The Kansas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Kansas) today condemned a racist poster at a Kansas City area high school and urged the school district to conduct a full review of its environment, policies and staff training to prevent such incidents from occurring. 

Over the weekend, photos emerged on social media of two students holding a sign apparently asking for a date to the Olathe South High School homecoming. The sign reads “If I was Black I’d be picking cotton but I’m white so I’m picking you for HOCO?” A spokesperson for Olathe Public Schools issued a statement saying the district is investigating the incident and working to contact all parties involved. 

SEE: Olathe School District investigating after photo surfaces of racist homecoming proposal 

https://www.ksnt.com/news/kansas/olathe-school-district-investigating-after-photo-surfaces-of-racist-homecoming-proposal/

“This is not the first time an incident like this has occurred at Olathe Public Schools, and it is time for the district to take more serious measures to challenge racism in schools,” said CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy. “We condemn this incident and urge Olathe Public Schools to conduct a full review of its environment, policies, and staff training to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.”

Elbayoumy said the American Muslim community and CAIR stand in solidarity with all those challenging anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.    

SEE: CAIR-Colorado Condemns Racist Flyers Targeting Longmont Businesses

CAIR Calls for Updated North Dakota Hate Crime Law After Racist Assault on 11-Year-Old African-American Female

CAIR Calls on 22 House Democrats Who Voted Against De-Militarizing Police to ‘Stop Siding with Police Unions Over Minority Constituents’ 

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.           

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.          

END

CONTACT: CAIR-Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy, 785-318-6323, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.