Muslim civil rights group moving banquet to DC, citing threats on October 20, 2023 at 2:04 pm

A Muslim civil rights group is moving its annual banquet out of Virginia, citing bomb threats and death threats against the hotel where it planned to hold the event Saturday.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was supposed to hold its 29th annual banquet this weekend at a Marriott Hotel in Arlington. CAIR had used the hotel for more than a decade.

“In recent days, according to the Marriott, anonymous callers have threatened to plant bombs in the hotel’s parking garage, kill specific hotel staff in their homes, and storm the hotel in a repeat of the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol if the events moved forward,” CAIR said in a statement.

When CAIR updated the event’s programming to focus on Palestinian human rights, it says the threats followed. CAIR is currently conducting an online campaign to urge members of Congress to support a cease-fire in Gaza as the Israel-Hamas war enters its second week.

“We strongly condemn the extreme and disgusting threats against our organization, the Marriott hotel and its staff,” CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement. “We will not allow the threats of anti-Palestinian racists and anti-Muslim bigots who seek to dehumanize the Palestinian people and silence American Muslims to stop us from pursuing justice for all.”

Israel is expected to conduct a ground invasion into Gaza soon, which has raised concerns amid the already dire conditions faced by those in the territory. 

The Hill has reached out to the Arlington County Police Department and the FBI for comment.

—Updated at 10:56 a.m.

​ A Muslim civil rights group is moving its annual banquet out of Virginia, citing bomb threats and death threats against the hotel where it planned to hold the event Saturday. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was supposed to hold its 29th annual banquet this weekend at a Marriott Hotel in Arlington. CAIR had used…