The email for this article was deactivated for time lapse.

CAIR posted the following report on October 24, 2016:

CAIR Asks Virginia Sheriff to Drop Sponsorship of Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Seminar

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/24/16) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on a Virginia law enforcement agency to drop its sponsorship of an upcoming seminar featuring a representative of an anti-Muslim hate group, the leader of which claims the CIA director is a “secret Muslim.”

CAIR says the Greene County Sheriff's Office is hosting a November 5 “Understanding the Threat” seminar billed as “a very interesting and informative class on the Muslim religion” and presented by an employee of notorious Islamophobe and anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist John Guandolo. “Understanding the Threat” is a presentation normally offered by Guandolo himself.

Anti-Muslim anti-immigrant activist Suzanne Shattuck, who has called for the deportation of American Muslims, will also speak at the event.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization that tracks hate groups in America, describes Guandolo as "a disreputable character, who regularly attacks the U.S. government, claims that the director of the Central Intelligence Agency is a secret Muslim agent for the Saudi government and says that American Muslims 'do not have a First Amendment right to do anything.'"

In a letter to Greene County Sheriff Steven S. Smith, CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Director Corey Saylor wrote in part:

“Everyone, even anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant bigots, have the First Amendment right to spew their hatred and conspiracy theories, but that bigotry should not have the implicit endorsement of a law enforcement agency. Let these individuals pay for their own private speaking venue and be ignored, as they deserve.”

“The sponsorship of this event by the sheriff’s office sends the message to members of the local Muslim community that they may not be protected against the growing number of hate incidents targeting Muslims nationwide due to rising Islamophobia.”

It is truly sad to see the Council on American Islamic Relations vigorously opposing law enforcement training that will benefit the public safety of all Americans.

Florida Family Association has prepared an email for you to send to thank Greene County Sheriff Steven Smith for his efforts to properly train law enforcement to more fully understand how to protect the public from terrorism.

The email for this article was deactivated for time lapse.

Contact information:

Sheriff: Steven S. Smith
10005 Spotswood Trail
Stanardsville, Virginia 22973

Email: ssmith@gcvasheriff.us

Phone: 434-985-2222
Fax: 434-985-3373