The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the Nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, recently said that CAIR-Chicago and the Aurora Public Library (APL) are working together to “initiate healing, bring understanding, and rebuild trust” following the unfortunate incident in which an anti-Muslim display was exhibited at the Santori Library of Aurora.
CAIR-Chicago had condemned the exhibit and stated that although the intent behind the display may have been satirical, the display was presented at face-value without any such context thus working to shock and threaten viewers, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, at a time in which anti-Muslim and anti-Hijab animosity is a serious problem.
The Library responded to CAIR-Chicago’s objections as well as hundreds of letters from the public by removing the display and issuing a formal apology. The Library’s communications director resigned.
CAIR-Chicago is reporting that things have been moving in the right direction:
CAIR-Chicago executive director, Ahmed Rehab spoke with Aurora’s Public Library’s executive director who profusely expressed her apologies, as well as genuine understanding and concern. Library Board president John Savage expressed his strong regrets. CAIR-Chicago is in positive communication with professor George Miller who wrote the poem. Rehab spoke with Aurora’s mayor, Richard Irvin, and Dr. David Livingston, the president of Lewis University, where professor Miller is employed. The University has no associations with the poem or display. Rehab thanked both leaders, both of whom have come out with strong statements of solidarity, and noted that both calls revolved around “very positive” conversations about future collaborative opportunities.
CAIR-Chicago, in collaboration with the library’s director, will hold cultural sensitivity training for the Library’s more than 100 staff members. CAIR-Chicago’s Asha Binbek and Saadia Pervaiz will lead the training.
“For us, this is not about ‘claiming scalps,’ to quote the unfortunate poem,” Rehab said, “to the contrary, where there is humble admission of error and a genuine desire to fix mistakes, then our strategy is to create an opportunity out of the challenge and work together to not only fix problems, but even set new standards of welcomeness.”
Aurora Public Library’s executive director, Daisy Porter-Reynolds reiterated that this is precisely the Library’s intent:
“On behalf of my Board, my staff, and myself, I offer my heartfelt apology to the Muslim community for the hurt caused by our art exhibit. I’m changing our procedures so that exhibit and display decisions will be vetted carefully by a team of staff and Board members. We plan to host cultural sensitivity training for our staff in cooperation with a number of agencies including CAIR-Chicago. Looking ahead, we will also engage the community with a series of programs on race and religion in Aurora and America. I have taken feedback from the community on how we can best go about this. I intend for everyone of all religions and races to feel safe and welcome at Aurora Public Library.”
CAIR-Chicago is the Chicago office of America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance.
— Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
