CAIR’s Executive: Donald Trump Fueling ‘Anti Muslim Sentiment’

STEPHANOPOULOS: "The San Bernardino massacre and the debate stirred up by Donald Trump has focused attention and new threats on America’s Muslim community. There you see a mosque in California victimized by arson, one of dozens of mosques targeted this year. And two offices of The Council on American-Islamic Relations had to be evacuated this week, after suspicious powders were sent to their offices.Here to talk about these threats and what America’s Muslim community can do to combat the radicalization of young Muslims is Nihad Awad, the executive director of CAIR, and Indiana Congressman Andre Carson, one of two Muslim members of Congress.Welcome to you both.And Mr. Awad let me begin with you.What has been the fallout in your community since San Bernardino, since the — the comments of Donald Trump?"
AWAD: "Good morning, George. As you can tell, the Muslim community is extremely concerned about the — the violent backlash against its members, against its institutions. As you have seen just moments ago, a mosque that was firebombed last Friday, quite a few violent attacks have been taking place against the individual Muslims. Hate messages, death threats like our two offices were evacuated, the one in Washington, DC and in Santa Clara, because of suspicious powder that we received was a death threat on it. So luckily everyone is safe and the matter is being investigated by the FBI. So, yes, there is a sense of anxiety. And this comes, you know, at the — at the — in the background of the anti-Muslim sentiment that has been, unfortunately, fueled by Donald Trump and his likes from — from his platform."