CAIR-Chicago

10/21/2026

CAIR-Chicago is proud to bring together communities, even in our toughest moments. Demonstrating that all we have is each other. Thank you to all of our partners and allies that spoke out against the white supremacist terrorist that sought to target a Hindu temple in Aurora with a mass shooting. The only thing that stopped him? A mechanical error in his weapon. That is the difference between us speaking out, and us mourning an entire community.

Frankly, that's unacceptable. We need more national gun regulation, mental health screenings, and the hate towards minority groups to be severely curbed, immediately.

10/20/2026

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Join CAIR-Chicago this Thursday, October 22, at 6 PM Central for our Zoom webinar, “Know Your Rights: Safe and Supported at School—Understanding K–12 Student Rights.”
 
We’ll discuss how to recognize and respond to harassment, discrimination, and bullying, with a focus on Muslim students facing Islamophobia.
 
Let’s stand up for the safety and dignity of our Muslim children. Register at the link

RSVP: bit.ly/22Oct2026SchoolsKYR

10/20/2026

Know Your Rights: Protecting Our Community Against Hate & Discrimination!

As incidents of anti-Muslim hate, harassment, and discrimination continue to raise concerns in our community, knowing your rights and how to respond is more important than ever.

Join CAIR-Chicago's Executive Director Ahmed Rehab and Imam Azfar Uddin of Islamic Foundation North (IFN) for an important Know Your Rights workshop covering:

🔹 Your legal rights when facing anti-Muslim harassment and hate

🔹 Students’ rights to peacefully advocate for Palestine

🔹 Free speech, workplace advocacy, and protections against retaliation

🔹 How to respond to discrimination, intimidation, or unfair treatment

📅 Sunday, October 25
🕚 Community Session: 11 AM | Youth Session: 12 PM
📍 Islamic Foundation North
1751 S. O'Plaine Rd., Libertyville, IL

Know your rights. Protect yourself. Empower our community.

We hope to see you there, insha'Allah!

10/19/2026

TUNE IN FOR A CRUCIAL ZOOM WEBINAR!

Parents, students, educators, community advocates, and masjid leaders—learn how to recognize and respond to:
- Bullying
- Discrimination
- Harassment

Let's advocate for the safety and dignity of our Muslim children!

Join CAIR-Chicago to understand K–12 student rights, with a focus on Muslim students facing Islamophobia.

🗓️ Thursday, October 22
🕕 6:00 PM CT
💻 Register: bit.ly/22Oct2026SchoolsKYR

10/19/2026

CAIR-Chicago calls for the immediate firing of CBS News’ Jan Crawford after she endorsed and supported a bigoted question targeted at MI Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Jan has since deleted her tweet and apologized for breaking CBS’ standards, NOT for supporting bigotry— of course 🙄👎🏽 CBS News

10/16/2026

ABC7: At a joint press conference, faith, civil rights, and elected leaders demanded action—not just words following the alleged white supremacist terrorist plot targeting Hindu worshippers in Aurora.

“We should not have to wait until our temples become massacre sites,” said Rishab Chatty of Hindus for Human Rights, calling for the country to take anti-Hindu hatred, anti-Indian racism, and white supremacist violence seriously Hindus for Human Rights

ABC7 highlighted Stop AAPI Hate’s findings that nearly half of South Asian adults experienced race-based hate in 2025, with 53% of those affected reporting negative mental or physical health impacts Stop AAPI Hate Action

“When hate crimes are labeled as vandalism or property crimes or low-level misdemeanors, we are not accounting to the intensity of hate crimes that’s happening in our country,” said Litcy Kurisinkal, board member of the Indian American Democratic Organization IADO: Indo-American Democratic Org

Leaders called for restoring federal funding for hate-crime prevention and policy changes addressing underreporting. Aurora Mayor John Laesch described increased patrols at houses of worship and coordination with Sikh community members, emphasizing the need for a community response—not just a police response.

Thanks to the reporting by ABC 7 Chicago’s Eric HorngABC 7 ChicagoEric HorngMaher

10/16/2026

WGN9: CAIR-Chicago joined Hindu, Jewish, Indian, and civil rights leaders to condemn the alleged white supremacist terrorist plot targeting Hindu worshippers in Aurora and demand action against rising anti–South Asian hate.

Executive Director Ahmed Rehab criticized the Trump administration’s hateful rhetoric and called on political leaders to confront white supremacy:

“Enough is enough. We call on our political leaders to step up and show courage and clarity and be true patriots. Patriotism is not beating your chest to your color or religion, but understanding that all Americans are entitled to safety and prosperity under this one flag.”

10/16/2026

FOX 32: Aurora Mayor John Laesch, CAIR-Chicago and other interfaith groups held a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Laesch said the city is thankful the attack did not happen and that the suspect was apprehended before he could act.

“We’re thankful that he was apprehended, that he did not act and we appreciate all those who worked together to make sure that that did not happen,” Laesch said. “… I’ve learned that we cannot control the thoughts and actions of others… but we can control our own actions. We cannot be afraid as the voices of facism grow louder.” 

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab also spoke at the news conference, calling on political leaders to take action.

“This young man was very clear in his own motives and intentions. He has been looking into N**i ideology for two years and he’s not the only one. They keep coming. Enough is enough. We call on our political leaders to step up,” Rehab said. “…All Americans are entitled to safety and prosperity under this one flag.”

The FBI’s Chicago Field Office, the Palatine and Mount Prospect police departments, and federal and local prosecutors are reviewing the case. Authorities are determining whether federal charges will be filed.

Paporakis is being held in custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 30 in Rolling Meadows.

10/16/2026

🚨 WHITE SUPREMACIST TERRORISM MUST BE CALLED WHAT IT IS.

Today, CAIR-Chicago joined SACRED Democracy , the The Sikh Coalition , SALDEF SALDEF (Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund), and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Chicago) Advancing Justice - AAJC for a joint press conference alongside community allies and elected officials, including State Senator Ram Villivalam State Senator Ram Villivalam and Aurora Mayor John Laesch John Laesch

Together, we condemned the failed white supremacist terrorist plot by 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis, who has been charged with making a terrorist threat after allegedly planning a mass shooting targeting Hindu worshippers at an Aurora temple.

Investigators reportedly recovered N**i imagery and a white supremacist manifesto expressing violent hatred toward Indian, Jewish, and Black American communities, among other minority groups. This was not hatred directed at one community alone, but an alleged terrorist plot rooted in an ideology that threatens us all.

CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab called on the media to apply the same standards in identifying the suspect as an alleged “terrorist” that are so often applied to Muslim, Black, and Brown suspects, who are routinely associated with terrorism and extremism.

We stand in unwavering solidarity with our Hindu brothers and sisters and all communities threatened by white supremacy, racism, and religious hatred.
Terrorism must be called terrorism, regardless of the perpetrator’s race, religion, or background.

Additional speakers included:

Pushkar Sharma — SACRED Acts
Anusha Thotakura — Chicago Board of Education member
Rishab Chatty — Hindus for Human Rights Hindus for Human Rights
Kalman Resnick — Jewish Council on Urban Affairs Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA)
Litcy Kurisinkal — Indian American Democratic Organization
Nidhi Shastri — Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago

10/15/2026