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CAIR To Local Muslims: We Will Be Vigilant Over Civil Rights

Bill Rinehart
/
WVXU
CAIR Executive Director Karen Dabdoub says local Muslims are concerned by the results of the Presidential election.

The local chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations has watched Donald Trump's campaign with some trepidation.

CAIR executive director Karen Dabdoub says there's concern based on Trump's comments about deportations during the campaign.

She says she's telling CAIR members not to worry. "We like many other Americans will hold our new President to the highest standards in defending the rights of everyone in this nation, as guaranteed by our Constitution."

Dabdoub says Trump's talk about deporting Muslims should inspire people.

"If this is not what we want our nation to look like and this is not the kind of person that we wanted to lead our nation, then it's up to us, all of us, all people of good will in this nation to work together to bring about a different result in four years," Dabdoub said. 

There's a protest against Trump Saturday on Fountain Square. Dabdoub says CAIR does not condone profane language or violence against any candidate or position.

"I don't think that that serves any good purpose. Peaceful protests and marches? Absolutely. That's our right as citizens. It's everyone's right in this country. But, violence? No. Because then how does that make us any different from the one that we're protesting against?"

Dabdoub says since Trump hasn't held public office, no one is sure what he'll actually do.

"It just remains to be seen how much of the very ugly rhetoric that came out of his campaign will actually be put into policy during his administration."

Dabdoub says while CAIR accepts the results of the election, members recognize that Trump won the Electoral College but not the popular vote.

Bill Rinehart started his radio career as a disc jockey in 1990. In 1994, he made the jump into journalism and has been reporting and delivering news on the radio ever since.