The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today submitted a California Public Records Act request to the City of Irvine for information regarding communications between two Irvine City Council members and organizations who have allegedly exhibited anti-Palestinian rhetoric and behaviors.
SEE: Irvine Struggles to Finish City Council Meetings as Ceasefire Calls Persist
The request seeks documentation of communication and coordination between Council Members Tammy Kim and Kathleen Treseder and groups and individuals who actively oppose the passage of a ceasefire resolution in Irvine that calls for an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Council Members Kim and Treseder previously blocked attempts for the council and community members to discuss a ceasefire resolution and have left meetings early, stepped out during public comments where the community spoke in support of the ceasefire, and voted to end meetings.
The request also seeks to obtain records of communication between these anti-Palestinian groups and Council Members Kim and Treseder in opposing the peaceful anti-genocide encampment at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and whether there was coordination to shut down the encampment and punish the students involved.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Legal Director Amr Shabaik, Esq. said:
“The Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, Jewish, and other residents of Irvine and Orange County who have spoken out against the genocide being perpetuated by Israel, or who have called for ceasefire resolutions, have been met with threats, intimidation, harassment, discrimination, and other attempts to suppress their advocacy. It is even more disturbing that this behavior has come from elected officials, including Irvine City Council members.
“It is crucial for the community and the public to know how anti-Palestinian organizations have influenced the decisions of our elected officials—especially considering Council Members Kim and Treseder’s active efforts to silence pro-Palestinian and anti-genocide speech and the subsequent harsh police crackdown on peaceful student protesters at UCI.”
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com