Today, Muslim Advocates reiterated its call for the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City to cancel its agreement to host the annual conference for the largest anti-Muslim hate group in the country and is urging the company not to distort civil rights law in order to justify its decision to protect a hate group.
On September 4-5, Hyatt is hosting ACT for Americaโs annual conference. ACT for America is the nationโs largest anti-Muslim hate group, known for its โmarches against Shariaโ during Ramadan last year and for making claims that โno practicing Muslim can be a loyal Americanโ and that Islam is a โpolitical ideology masquerading as a religion.โ
In response to earlier calls for the hotel not to host this event, Hyatt responded that it would host the event because it โdoes not unlawfully discriminate against groups who wish to hold lawful meetings at the hotel.โ But Hyatt is misrepresenting the law โ there are no laws in Virginia or at the federal level that require a hotel to host a hate group like ACT for America.
โItโs deeply troubling that a major company like Hyatt would so grossly misstate its civil rights obligations,โ said Scott Simpson, public advocacy director for Muslim Advocates. โHyatt is trying to turn civil rights law on its head in order to justify hosting a group dedicated to advancing bigotry. While Airbnb and other major hotel chains have declined to host events by hate group, Hyatt is making an active choice to associate with this ideology. โ
In just the past year, major hospitality companies like Hilton, Airbnb, Sofitel (owned by AccorHotels) and the Willard Hotel (owned by IHG) have all declined to host hate groups. Marriott decided to host ACT for Americaโs 2017 convention despite a broad public outcry and cited its desire to host the event because โour arms need to be open.โ
โHyatt claims to champion diversity and inclusion and all we are asking is that the company re-examine its own stated values and conclude that there will be no room for hate at Hyattโ said Simpson. โIf they choose to move forward, Hyatt Regency employees and guests should be aware that their hotel is enabling hate.โ
Muslim Advocates is launching a petition and a โNo Room for Hateโ social media campaign and will actively work with allied organizations, stakeholders, and concerned customers to raise these concerns in the lead up to the convention.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- Today, Muslim Advocates reiterated its call for the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City to cancel its agreement to host the annual conference for the largest anti-Muslim hate group in the country and is urging the company not to distort civil rights law in order to justify its decision to protect a hate group.
- ACT for America is the nation's largest anti-Muslim hate group, known for its โmarches against Shariaโ during Ramadan last year and for making claims that โno practicing Muslim can be a loyal Americanโ and that Islam is a โpolitical ideology masquerading as a religion.
- โ But Hyatt is misrepresenting the law โ there are no laws in Virginia or at the federal level that require a hotel to host a hate group like ACT for America.