Muslim groups to hold ‘Not Trump’s Iftar’ outside White House

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is hosting a Wednesday iftar, the traditional dinner ending the Ramadan fast, outside of the White House in opposition to President Trump, the group announced Tuesday.

Co-sponsored by other Muslim and civil rights groups, NOT Trump’s Iftar will be held in Lafayette Square outside of the White House at the same time Trump is hosting an iftar inside to recognize the end of the holy month, during which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

{mosads}Trump faced backlash last year when he broke with nearly two decades of tradition by not hosting an iftar.

The dinners began under President Clinton and were continued by Presidents George W. Bush and Obama.

The White House iftar is usually attended by diplomats, members of Congress and other prominent members of the Muslim community.

Politico reported Saturday that Trump’s iftar has been scheduled for Wednesday.

CAIR said it “has witnessed an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president,” the group said in a statement.

Trump has been criticized for his comments about Muslims, as well as his travel ban that prevented people from entering the U.S. from several Muslim-majority countries. 

As a presidential candidate, Trump called for a ban on all Muslims entering the country and told CNN that “Islam hates us.”

Trump issued a statement last month at the beginning of Ramadan that the holiday “reminds us of the richness Muslims add to the religious tapestry of American life.”

“In the United States, we are all blessed to live under a Constitution that fosters religious liberty and respects religious practice. Our Constitution ensures Muslims can observe Ramadan in accordance with the dictates of conscience and unimpeded by government,” Trump said.