CAIR 16th Annual Banquet

How much would you pay to know if a Hamas founded organization knew who you were? How about $65? That's the cost of admission to CAIR's 16th annual banquet and fundraiser. Last year, I attended CAIR's 15th annual banquet without incident, but apparently the have judged me as part of the Islamophobia machine, which in different parts of the world is announcing a death sentence.

So this year, I wanted to know if CAIR=Hamas was actually organized enough to follow what they say, because that hasn't always been the case. To get to registration, I walked by the VIP room that was laid out like a tent with cushions, the prayer room, and all sorts of items up for auction. The items up for auction is a new twist that they had not done in the past two years...maybe they're hard up for cash with all their legal troubles.

Also new this year, were the CAIR security and their metal detection handwands. These are really more for show to intimidate anyone that might want to come with an unauthorized recording device.

At registration, were a white non-muslim male and female. This too was new, guess CAIR spread its wings for interns this year. The male looked through the registration sheet, quickly went to see Corey Saylor, and returned. Corey came over, and oh so nicely informed me that they could not accomodate me, that my money had been refunded, and that they had sent me an email. I was somewhat expecting not to get in because I had registered about 4 p.m. the day before. Had that been the end of it, I may have accepted the mysterious cancellation as a polite way of saying I booked too late. But, with CAIR...its never that simple. I had not checked my email before, but they had sent me the following cancellation. Appartently, it took about five hours on the Friday night before a major event to determine I was trouble, which means they probably had me on a standing list of threats that merit a reply from their National Legal Counsel...and fellow defendent.

Dear Mr. ,

Thank you very much for your interest in attending our banquet; unfortunately, we will be unable to accommodate you.

Thank you for your understanding. We have already refunded your ticket price as is evidenced in the attached document.

Best regards,

Nadhira Al-Khalili, Esq.
Legal Counsel
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
453 New Jersey Ave., South East
Washington, DC 20003
Office: 202-646-6034
Main: 202-488-8787
Fax: 202-488-0833


The delay between Corey's notification and his coming to deliver the news was apparently to notify Marriott security. So Marriott security escorted me out, they never touched me, they also never told me why I needed an escort. Along the walk, the guard had to let another guard and a supervisor know that everything was ok. Apparently, CAIR deemed RFDAH a big security risk...I imagined this is how Chuck Norris must make people feel. I don't fault security, they followed safe practices, its just telling that CAIR has follow through and that it identifed me as such a risk.

For the sake of argument, what could the Ground Mosque Zero developer and a Hamas founded organization say behind closed doors that would be so devistating if it were leaked out...or say entered into Federal prosecution evidence. Oh yeah, lots of things.

I will write another post on the protest outside, getting late. Good job by VAST, was great to see everyone and meet Gellar and Spencer. More later when later is more.