FYI - this is NOT a political press conference, no signs displayed or allowed. The message is that all New Yorkers should be able to worship freely and we will not tolerate these types of acts against any religious community.

(NEW YORK, N.Y., 7/21/14) –- On Tuesday, July 22, Muslim leaders, interfaith leaders, elected officials and civil rights organizations, will hold a noon news conference at the Islamic Center of Bay Ridge in Brooklyn in reaction to an incident on Sunday morning in which individuals holding Israeli flags out of a car window screamed at and antagonized worshippers in front of the mosque as worshippers gathered for morning prayers.

The perpetrators were seen on camera circling the mosque seven times as they taunted worshipers and screamed anti-Islamic slurs.

WHAT: News Conference at 2nd Brooklyn Mosque Targeted by Hate

WHEN: Tuesday, July 22, Noon

WHERE: Islamic Society of Bay Ridge, 6807 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY

"All people deserve to attend religious services without fear of discrimination or intimidation. We have coexisted in peace with other communities in Brooklyn and we want to keep it that way. We will not tolerate hate in this community." Dr. Husam Rimawi, Board member, Islamic Society of Bay Ridge. 

Earlier today, CAIR-NY called on law enforcement authorities and public officials to investigate an alleged attack on Muslim worshippers on their way to prayers at another Brooklyn mosque as a possible hate crime.

CAIR-NY Calls for Hate Crime Probe of Attack on Muslims Outside Mosque
http://cair-ny.org/blog/press_release_cairny_calls_for_hate_crime_probe_of_attack_on_muslims_outside_mosque.html

###

The Campaign to TAKE ON HATE aims to achieve meaningful social change, not only through public education, media and coalition building, but by providing a platform for Arab Americans and Muslims to speak up and inspire real policy change that challenges institutional racism and protects the rights of our communities.