MILWAUKEE, WI – “On Thursday, April 2nd, I became aware that the President of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee (ISM) Salah Sarsour was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and currently sits in a detention center in Indiana. In addition to being a community leader, Salah is a grandfather and lawful Milwaukee-area neighbor for over three decades.
“At this time, our increasingly fascist federal government has not released any information as to why he was taken into custody or what he is being charged with. What we do know is that Salah is Palestinian-American and is a vocal advocate for a free and independent Palestinian state.
“We have already seen numerous Muslim activists unfairly and unlawfully targeted by the Trump Administration for their beliefs and their speech. These Unconstitutional assaults on our freedoms should alarm all of us. When any individual or group is targeted by the government for their speech, all of our freedoms are threatened.
“On behalf of my neighbors I call on the federal government to make clear what their case is against Mr. Sarsour, and to release him to his family ahead of court proceedings later this month.
“No one in America is free if due process and free speech are no longer protected.”
