CAIR: N. Calif. Police Officers Disciplined Over Racial Comments
SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) announced today that disciplinary action has been taken against officers of the Newark Police Department over inappropriate racial comments made to a 15-year-old of Moroccan heritage when he was detained for questioning and later released.
While the teen was being questioned, a police officer allegedly asked him where he was from, and then said, "You came here to make trouble, I'm sending you back to your country." Other police officers present in the room reportedly laughed. The incident left the young man feeling shaken. He says he began to have recurring nightmares and now feels intimidated by any police presence.
CAIR-SFBA called for an investigation of the incident and for a reprimand to the officers involved. At a meeting this week with police officials, a CAIR-SFBA representative and the mother of the detained teen, officials confirmed that an internal investigation had been conducted and that appropriate disciplinary action had been taken against the officers involved. A verbal apology was also offered to the mother.
"Racially inflammatory comments directed at any person are inappropriate and offensive; that these comments were directed at a minor was entirely unacceptable," said CAIR-SFBA Programs and Outreach Director Agnes Chong. "We appreciate that the Newark Police Department took appropriate action to investigate the officers involved, and we reiterate the importance of police sensitivity and of being respectful to people of all races, ethnicities and religions."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Programs and Outreach Director Agnes Chong, 408-986-9874 or 408-646-2773, E-Mail: achong@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787 or 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com
SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations
While the teen was being questioned, a police officer allegedly asked him where he was from, and then said, "You came here to make trouble, I'm sending you back to your country." Other police officers present in the room reportedly laughed. The incident left the young man feeling shaken. He says he began to have recurring nightmares and now feels intimidated by any police presence.
CAIR-SFBA called for an investigation of the incident and for a reprimand to the officers involved. At a meeting this week with police officials, a CAIR-SFBA representative and the mother of the detained teen, officials confirmed that an internal investigation had been conducted and that appropriate disciplinary action had been taken against the officers involved. A verbal apology was also offered to the mother.
"Racially inflammatory comments directed at any person are inappropriate and offensive; that these comments were directed at a minor was entirely unacceptable," said CAIR-SFBA Programs and Outreach Director Agnes Chong. "We appreciate that the Newark Police Department took appropriate action to investigate the officers involved, and we reiterate the importance of police sensitivity and of being respectful to people of all races, ethnicities and religions."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Programs and Outreach Director Agnes Chong, 408-986-9874 or 408-646-2773, E-Mail: achong@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787 or 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com
SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations
posted by Paresh Paleja at
10:44 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home