Stop the attacks on Muslims, mosques!

The following statement by Jacob Perasso, Socialist Workers Party candidate for U.S. Senate from New York, was released Aug. 14.

The Socialist Workers Party condemns the cold-blooded assassination of Imam Maulama Akonjee and his friend Thara Uddin as they left a mosque in Ozone Park, Queens, Aug. 13. We call on workers, farmers and defenders of democratic rights to condemn this vicious attack. We call for the arrest and prosecution of whoever is responsible.

This attack and others on Muslims and mosques are the inevitable consequence of the climate created by the U.S. capitalist rulers and their government. They promote anti-Muslim hysteria to serve their war aims and to justify spying on mosques and Muslims by the FBI, New York City cops and other government agencies. The fact is that most victims of Islamist terrorism are Muslims. We oppose police spying. History has shown it is aimed above all at the working class and our unions.

Washington talks about peace while escalating endless wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria. The Pentagon — with President Barack Obama’s personal supervision — uses drones to assassinate anyone it decides to, acting as judge, jury and executioner and killing hundreds of civilians along the way. And this doesn’t include those killed in other U.S. airstrikes and bombings. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump and their parties endorse this.

While Obama has criticized Trump for his demagogic remarks slandering Muslims, his administration has put thousands of Muslims on the no-fly list and denied many of them visas to enter the United States because of their faith.

As the worldwide capitalist economic crisis deepens with no end in sight, there will be more attacks on democratic and political rights and on workers and our unions at home, as the U.S. propertied rulers accelerate trade wars and shooting wars abroad.

To defend its interests, the working class must vigorously oppose the U.S. war drive and attacks on democratic rights. An injury to one is an injury to all.

Stop the attacks on mosques and Muslims! U.S. troops out of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria!

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