Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Since being established in 1994, CAIR has a successful track record in its defense of civil liberties and tolerance. Prior to establishing CAIR, its founders observed that "the core challenge [in America], that of stereotyping and defamation, was having a devastating effect on our children and paralyzing adults from taking their due roles in civic affairs." Today, the organization has a nationwide presence and a headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.The vast majority of CAIR's work deals with civil rights and anti-defamation. The first CAIR chapter was established in California's San Francisco Bay Area in 1995. In late 2009, CAIR's newest chapter opened for operations in Iowa. CAIR chapters are independently organized and operated.