The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced today that it will be launching an upcoming DMV Campus Tour.
Set to kick off in January 2025, this initiative is intended to be both an active listening tour to understand students’ priorities and concerns, and an informational event to offer resources and workshops on a range of issues, including civil rights and bystander intervention training, to Muslim college and university students in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.
With a focus on addressing censorship, discrimination, Islamophobia, and other challenges impacting students on campuses, the tour aims to feature tailored trainings and discussions customized to meet the specific needs of each campus community.
“More than just offering resources, this initiative will provide an opportunity for students to share their experiences, understand their rights, and foster a safe and inclusive environment,” said CAIR Maryland’s Outreach Coordinator, Kimberly Syuardi. “CAIR is excited to collaborate with students and better understand their needs and how our organization can serve and support them. By fostering stronger campus communities, the DMV Campus Tour will serve as a springboard for sustained advocacy and support for Muslim students.”
The DMV Campus Tour aims to:
- Equip Muslim college students with knowledge about their civil rights in public education.
- Strengthen the capacity of Muslim student organizations, including the Muslim Students’ Association, to advocate for students’ rights on campus.
- Build a network of proactive, empowered students prepared to defend their rights and report or respond to incidents of discrimination or hate bias.
- Increase awareness about the importance of civil rights protections within academic institutions.
Stops are tentatively scheduled so far at the following universities in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia:
- Johns Hopkins University
- Towson University
- UMBC
- University of Maryland College Park
- Bowie State University
- American University
- Howard University
- Georgetown University
- George Washington University
- George Mason University
For more information about the DMV Campus Tour, contact Kimberly Syuardi at [email protected].
In August, CAIR launched its Unhostile Campus Campaign, a project aimed at fostering a campus environment where Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, faculty, and staff opposing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza enjoy free speech and academic freedom and are not subjected to state force or university discipline due to their viewpoints.
Students, staff, and faculty who wish for their university or college campus to be considered as a potential “institution of particular concern” should complete the form linked below.
SEE: Report a Hostile Campus to CAIR
The organization adds in a disclaimer that the new form is intended solely to inform CAIR’s UnHostile Campus Campaign. Students, faculty, and affiliates seeking CAIR’s legal and advocacy services should continue to contact their local office or chapter, or in the event that there is no local chapter, file a formal report with CAIR’s National Civil Rights Department.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, [email protected], 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kimberly Syuardi, [email protected], 202-850-9293