Hyatt Plans to Host Anti-Muslim Conference in DC-Area

Washington, DC – This past weekend, DC-area companies made an important pro-active choice to deny services to white supremacists gathering for the “Unite the Right” rally. Despite this, Hyatt is still planning to host the annual conference for the nation’s largest anti-Muslim hate group at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, Virginia September 4-5. Muslim Advocates has called on the hotel chain to cancel its hosting of the ACT for America conference. In response, Hyatt is misrepresenting the law to justify its decision.  Hyatt is claiming that the company does not want to “unlawfully discriminate” against the hate group, even though there is no law in Virginia or at the federal level that would protect hate groups from discrimination. ACT for America has led “marches against Sharia” during Ramadan, falsely claimed that Islam is a “political ideology masquerading as a religion,” and that “no practicing Muslim can be a loyal American.”

The following is a statement from Scott Simpson, public advocacy director of Muslim Advocates, regarding the conference:

“When white supremacists organized to come to Washington, DC this past weekend, companies like Airbnb, Uber, Lyft, and restaurants and bars like Founding Farmers, Equinox, Lincoln, Comfort Kitchen, and Exiles took a stand and said they had no room for hate at their establishments. Even the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington affirmed the rights of its members to deny services to hate groups.

Hyatt should follow suit and say there is #NoRoomforHate instead of embracing the largest anti-Muslim hate group in the country with open arms. At a time when our country should unequivocally condemn bigotry, Hyatt is misrepresenting civil rights law to justify hosting a hate group and providing them a forum to organize against American Muslims.

In just the past year, major hospitality companies like Hilton, Airbnb, Sofitel (owned by AccorHotels) and the Willard Hotel (owned by IHG) have all declined to host hate groups.

Last week, we repeated our call to Hyatt to cancel this event; the media noticed and Hyatt customers noticed, yet Hyatt has not yet responded.

Hyatt claims to champion diversity and inclusion – we are asking the company to re-examine its own stated values and conclude that there is no room for hate at Hyatt.”

Muslim Advocates is a national legal advocacy and educational organization that works on the frontlines of civil rights to guarantee freedom and justice for Americans of all faiths.

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