(COLUMBUS, OH, 8/15/19) – CAIR-Columbus today welcomed the removal of an offensive cutout from a storefront in Beverly, Ohio.
The object was a silhouetted wooden cutout of a Middle-Eastern figure riding on the back of a camel with a rifle in hand. It featured red targets in the center of the figure’s head and around the heart of the camel. This cutout, which was openly visible from the road, was prominently displayed outside a local business in Beverly, Ohio for many years until it caught the attention of a concerned passerby. The passerby immediately reported it to CAIR-Columbus.
CAIR-Columbus reached out to the business and requested the immediate removal of the offensive cutout from public view. CAIR-Columbus also expressed concern about the non-welcoming and discriminatory impact of this cutout on local Muslim and Arab residents.
Per Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, establishments that serve the public cannot curtail an individual’s right to “full and equal enjoyment of [its] goods … and services” based on the individual’s race, color, religion, or national origin.”
CAIR-Columbus encourages continued reporting of bigoted images or signs displayed in public. Report an incident to CAIR-Columbus here.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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. The CAIR-Ohio Affiliate has three chapters – Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.