Photo: YouTube\Screenshot
(BALTIMORE, MD, 12/7/2022) – The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Wednesday strongly condemned the alleged burglarizing and racially-motivated vandalism targeting a historic Black church in Potomac, Md.
According to a statement released by County Executive Marc Elrich, the Scotland African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Potomac was broken into, vandalized and burglarized on November 25.
SEE: Elrich Condemns ‘Racist’ Vandalism at Historic Black Church in Potomac
https://patch.com/maryland/bethesda-chevychase/elrich-condemns-racist-vandalism-historic-black-church-potomac
“Black churches have served a prominent role as sanctuaries for African-American communities in the historic struggle for justice, freedom and equality in America,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “We strongly condemn this crime and encourage anyone with information about it to report it to police.”
Tips can be submitted anonymously to the 2nd District Investigative Section of the Montgomery County Police Department at 240-773-6710 or 240-773-TIPS or Crimes Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
According to the church’s website, the Scotland AME Zion Church was “built by hand and opened in 1924 by Black congregants in Potomac. Registered as a State Historic Site by the Maryland Historical Trust, today the church is the only historic building to survive in the Scotland community. It is a site of struggle, triumph, and resiliency that deserves to be celebrated and supported.”
SEE: https://scotlandamezion.org/about/
Chaudry said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
