The Houston office of the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-TX) today announced the publication of an open letter to the Presidents and Chairs of the Board of Regents at Public Universities across Texas. This letter is in response to Governor Greg Abbott’s Executive Order 44 concerning antisemitism on campus.
The letter, a collaborative effort, bears the signatures of leading civil rights and advocacy organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, Emgage Texas, and the Muslim Bar Association of Houston. It addresses concerns and recommendations related to the implementation of Executive Order 44, aiming to ensure that the order will not infringe on free speech or academic freedom.
“Silencing student advocacy for Palestinian human rights under the guise of countering antisemitism endangers the fight against real antisemitism, contributes to anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia, and threatens free speech,” said William White, Director of CAIR-Texas, Houston. “It is imperative that schools avoid suppressing free speech or violating the civil liberties of students and faculty due to their support for the human rights of all people, including Palestinians. Our letter to Texas’ university leaders expresses these concerns and outlines recommendations to navigate these complex issues.”
In a statement, Mustafaa Carroll, Executive Director of CAIR Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth, said:
“Our campuses should be centers for free and open discourse, where ideas can be exchanged without fear of discrimination. This letter serves as a call to action for university administrators to foster an environment that does not conflate human rights activism with bigotry or undermine civil liberties, including free speech.”
The letter emphasizes the importance of engaging in constructive dialogue and education to combat antisemitism, while also safeguarding the rights and freedoms that are fundamental to academic environments.
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CONTACT: William White, Director CAIR-Texas, Houston Phone: 713-254-2016 Email: w-white@cair.com