• CAIR: 'Third Jihad' Should Cost NYC Commissioner His Job (CNN)
  "They were not telling the truth about their involvement in the propaganda film against Muslims," said Nihad Awad, executive director of [CAIR].
  
  • CAIR: Mayor Says Anti-Muslim Film Caused Damage (NY Times)
    "New Yorkers must now question the credibility of every statement they make," said Cyrus McGoldrick, a manager at [CAIR-NY].
    
  • Video: NYPD Apology Not Enough for Showing Anti-Islam Film (CAIR)
    

CAIR Action Alert:

Action: Ask West Point to Disinvite Anti-Islam Speaker
Retired Lt. Gen. Boykin says Constitution should not protect Muslims, there should be 'no mosques in America'

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/27/2012) -- CAIR is calling on American Muslims and other people of conscience to contact the superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to ask that he rescind an invitation to an anti-Islam speaker, retired Lieutenant General William G. "Jerry" Boykin, who is scheduled to appear February 8 at an academy prayer breakfast.

Boykin believes that "[Islam] should not be protected under the First Amendment," that there should be "no mosques in America" and that there can be no interfaith dialogue or cooperation between Muslims and Christians.

SEE: Vets Call on West Point to Cancel Speech by Islamophobic General

The military academy says it stands by the decision to host Boykin because it is "in keeping with the broad range of ideas normally considered by our cadets."

"The academy's association with Mr. Boykin's extremist and intolerant views sends a negative message to the cadets and to the Muslim-majority nations in which they may be stationed after graduation," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

Awad sent a letter yesterday to Superintendent Lieutenant General David H. Huntoon asking that the academy's invitation to Boykin be withdrawn.

SEE: CAIR Joins Vets in Asking West Point to Disinvite Anti-Islam Speaker

Awad's letter stated in part:

"Mr. Boykin's intolerant views do a disservice to our nation's longstanding traditions of religious freedom and pluralism and could potentially harm our country's interests and the security of our troops overseas. By providing a platform associated with West Point, Mr. Boykin's hate-filled rhetoric would receive a level of credibility and legitimacy it does not deserve. We respectfully ask that you reconsider inviting him."

CAIR and People For the American Way objected to Boykin's speaking yesterday at a mayor's prayer breakfast in Maryland. Hundreds of people contacted city officials to protest Boykin's appearance.

CAIR: Invited for Prayer Breakfast, General Avoids Talk of Islam
CAIR: An Army Officer, Years On, Still a Lightning Rod (Wash. Post)
Editorial: Religious Bigotry in Ocean City? (Baltimore Sun)

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be respectful and polite.)

CONTACT:

Lieutenant General David H. Huntoon
Superintendent
United States Military Academy
West Point, New York 10996

E-MAIL: webmail@usma.edu
COPY TO: Francis.Demaro@usma.edu, carole.marvin@usma.edu, info@cair.com, christine.ferraiuolo@usma.edu, Theresa.Brinkerhoff@usma.edu, 8pao@usma.edu

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Superintendent Huntoon:

I respectfully request that the U.S. Military Academy at West Point rescind its invitation to retired Lieutenant General William G. "Jerry" Boykin who is scheduled to speak February 8 at an academy prayer breakfast.

Mr. Boykin is an infamous Islamophobe who believes that "[Islam] should not be protected under the First Amendment," that there should be "no mosques in America" and that there can be no interfaith dialogue or cooperation between Muslims and Christians.

His extremist views are clearly outside the "broad range of ideas normally considered by [y]our cadets."

The academy's association with Mr. Boykin's intolerant views do a disservice to our nation's longstanding traditions of pluralism and will send a negative message to the cadets and to the Muslim-majority nations in which they may be stationed after graduation.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[Sign your name here]

Mail or fax a copy to:

Mr. Leon E. Panetta
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301-1000

FAX: (703) 571-8951