August 17, 2016
Issue: Hate Crimes
Muslim Advocates Joined By Nearly 40 Groups to Urge Mayor Bill de Blasio to Direct NYPD Hate Crimes Unit to Thoroughly Investigate Queens Murders
Civil Rights, Faith and Community Groups Urge De Blasio and NYPD to Investigate All Possible Motives in Queens Shooting
Amid ongoing violence against American Muslims, Muslim Advocates was joined by nearly 40 groups today to urge Mayor Bill de Blasio to direct the NYPD Hate Crimes Unit to thoroughly investigate the tragic shooting in Queens over the weekend that took the lives of two Muslim men, Imam Alauddin Akonjee, a religious leader at the Al-Furqan Jame mosque in Ozone Park, and his assistant, Thara Miah.
Signatories to the letter to Mayor de Blasio include Color of Change, Interfaith Center of New York, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, Center for Constitutional Rights, National LGBTQ Task Force and Muslim Bar Association of New York.
The letter urges law enforcement officials to examine thoroughly and objectively all possible motives for the crime. It highlights the numerous instances of violence the American Muslim community in New York has reported in just the last few weeks and months.
To read the full statement and list of signatories, click here.
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Muslim Advocates is a national legal advocacy and educational organization working on the frontlines of civil rights to guarantee freedom and justice for Americans of all faiths. Through high impact lawsuits, policy advocacy, and community education, Muslim Advocates serves as a resource to empower communities and ensures that the American Muslim community is heard by the courts and leaders at the highest level of government. Visit Muslim Advocates at https://muslimadvocates.org and follow @muslimadvocates.