CAIR-MN to Announce Filing of EEOC Discrimination Charges on Behalf of 21 Muslim Employees

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 4/27/16) - On Thursday, April 28, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) will hold a news conference to announce the filing of discrimination charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of 21 Somali-American Muslim employees against Truth Hardware and Doherty Staffing Solutions.

Some of the employees will be present at the news conference.

WHAT: Press Conference to Announce EEOC Discrimination Charges Against Manufacturing Company and Temporary Staffing Agency

WHERE: CAIR Minnesota, 2021 East Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55413 - Lower Level Conference Room

WHEN: Thursday, April 28, 10:30 a.m.

Truth Hardware and Doherty Staffing Solutions employees were terminated around May and June 2015 after they asked for religious accommodations that would allow them to pray. Many employees were told that if they could not comply with the break schedule, they would have to go home and could not continue working. Others were told that if they needed a religious accommodation and could not wait until their shifts were over to pray, then they would have to go home and wait until the company notified them that an accommodation could be made. Many of these employees were never called back to work. Some employees were terminated for "violating the bathroom policy" by spilling water on the floor. This was clearly pretext for Truth Hardware's discriminatory actions.

"It is the constitutional right of these employees to have their religious practices accommodated, and companies need to start adapting their workplace policies accordingly," said CAIR-MN Civil Rights Director Amarita Singh.

Today, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) held a news conference to announce the filing of discrimination charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and unfair labor practices charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on behalf of 15 bus drivers of Somali-heritage against Monarch Bus Services and the Minneapolis and Suburban Bus Company.

Several charges are in the process of being filed with the EEOC, Longfellow said. They allege discrimination based on ethnicity.

"The bus companies treated us unfairly and would not listen to the group's concerns,” group leader Mahmud Kanyare said. “The school children suffered because they had to ride in cold buses during a Minnesota winter."

Click Here to Watch the Press Conference 

https://www.facebook.com/CAIR.Minnesota/videos/989605864480484/ 

On Tuesday, April 5, the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) will join interfaith, social justice and community organizations and leaders at a news conference in St. Paul., Minn., to address the challenges facing Minnesota Muslims because of the rise of Islamophobia in that state and nationwide.

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 4/1/16) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) has received the 2016 Winds of Change diversity award from the Forum on Workplace Inclusion, in partnership with the University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business. The Forum is the largest diversity and inclusion conference in the country. 

The Winds of Change Award goes to an individual or organization that has demonstrated sustained support for advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace and raised awareness of workplace diversity. 

Celebrating its 28th year in 2016, the Forum on Workplace Inclusion convenes in Minneapolis each year to engage national and international people, advance ideas and ignite change around the topics of diversity, inclusion and equity.

SEE: 2016 Winds of Change Award to CAIR-Minnesota

https://www.stthomas.edu/workplaceforum/events/diversity-awards/   

In the award acceptance speech, CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein said: "We greatly humbled and honored to be receiving this award. CAIR-MN works hard every day to make workplace inclusion a reality for our clients and our communities.”

Hussein added, “we value our partnership and trainings we offer with many of the Forum attendees in order to build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.”

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 3/30/16) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today expressed disappointment at the decision to not indict two Minneapolis police officers for the fatal shooting of Jamar Clark. 

Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced today that his office will not bring charges against Officers Mark Ringgenberg and Dustin Schwarze for the November shooting. Clark, 24, died from a gunshot wound to the head after an encounter with the two officers. 

"We are extremely disappointed that Jamar Clark did not receive justice today. We are left with more questions than answers," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Jaylani Hussein "The video presented today appears to indicate the officers were in fact the instigators of the incident. Our thoughts are with the family." 

Hussein added that Clark's case is not anomaly and that there needs to be an ongoing, systemic accountability structure to transform policing and how the police and community interact. 

Community members are urged to join a community response gathering tonight at Elliot Park (1000 E 14th St, Minneapolis, Downtown Minneapolis) at 6 p.m. in a renewed call for justice for Jamar Clark and the African-American community of Minneapolis. 

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 3/28/16) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today join its national office in condemning the deadly bombing in Pakistan that reportedly targeted Christian families celebrating Easter. More than 70 people were killed in the blast. While Christians seem to have been the target of the attack, most of the victims were Muslim.

In a statement, CAIR-MN said: "We condemn this horrific attack on families celebrating their religious holiday and seek the swift apprehension and punishment of all those involved in its planning and execution. Such cowardly attacks must be rejected by people of all faiths, whether they occur in Pakistan, Belgium, Turkey, or any other nation."

"Terrorism is a global problem, and we are safer and stronger when community of all faiths, political backgrounds, and countries of origin stand up against terrorism. Those who seek to divide communities and foment hate only strengthen the hand of terror". 

CAIR-MN: Expresses Solidarity with People of Belgium Following Attacks

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 3/22/16) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today expressed solidarity with the people of Belgium following attacks in that nation’s capital that left more than 30 people dead and many more injured.

In a statement, CAIR said:

“We express our solidarity with the people of Belgium and offer condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed and injured. Such heinous attacks are antithetical to the ideals of civilized society.”

American Muslim organizations have consistently and repeatedly condemned terrorism in all its forms.

SEE: CAIR’s Condemnation of Terrorism

http://www.cair.com/about-us/cair-anti-terrorism-campaigns.html 

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 2/26/16) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today said members of that state's Muslim community are concerned about the possible motive for a break-in and vandalism Wednesday night targeting a Minneapolis mosque. Officials with the Umatul Islam Center tell CAIR that a white male apparently in his 50s was caught on surveillance video breaking doors and windows in the mosque and stealing equipment and files. The damage estimate is more than $5,000. Wednesday's vandalism is reportedly the second such incident in the past month. A man who appears to resemble the most recent suspect was allegedly caught on surveillance video trying unsuccessfully to break into the mosque.