Members of the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) attended a banquet held by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) at the Crystal City Marriot in Arlington, VA. The banquet was held in celebration of CAIR’s 20th anniversary and was attended by over 1,000 people including community members, activists, diplomats, and civil rights and interfaith leaders.  Among the speakers were Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), who accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who received CAIR’s American Muslim of the Year Award. Civil rights leader and MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton sent a message by video.
In 1994, Nihad Awad and a group of community activists founded CAIR as a civil liberties and advocacy organization. Since then, CAIR has become the largest US Muslim civil rights organization and has remained steadfast in its fight for justice.
Oussama Jammal, USCMO secretary-general, was presented with the Community Builder Award. “Our sincerest congratulations to CAIR on its 20th anniversary. It has been a pleasure to witness their achievements and growth these past years and we are thankful for CAIR’s service and continuous dedication,” said Jammal, “It is a privilege to be associated with CAIR and we look forward to continuing our work alongside them for years to come.”
