The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the nationwide distribution of its Protest Policy Guidance to over sixty state higher education leaders and more than 1,000 college and university administrators across the country.
CAIR’s policy guidance offers recommendations that schools can adopt to protect their students and ensure their right to engage in peaceful protest while also maintaining safe campuses and upholding relevant laws. CAIR developed the guidance in response to a growing wave of discriminatory and punitive actions against student protesters—particularly those advocating for Palestinian rights.
“College students have always been part of critical social justice movements. These include forcing the government to allow women to vote, ending child labor practices, and opposing the Vietnam war, racial segregation and apartheid in South Africa,” said CAIR National Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. “Our goal with this policy is to help university administrators craft an educational environment in which America’s tradition of peaceful protest can thrive, despite government efforts to chill free speech.”
Saylor added: “This guidance is for university administrators who value free speech and peaceful protest. History shows that passionate voices can lead to transformative change. These moments remind us that change is achievable when we speak out. Our universities are vital spaces for fostering free speech, and together, we can continue to champion this dialogue.”
CAIR’s Protest PolicyGuidance addresses key areas, including:
- Protection from discriminatory or retaliatory disciplinary action
- Limits on unnecessary law enforcement involvement in student activism
- Support for students and faculty facing harassment, doxxing, or public smear campaigns
- Reasonable time, place, and manner policy guidance
Students and administrators can read the full policy and access related resources at: https://islamophobia.org/anti-prejudice-tools/protest-policy-guidance/
To learn more about the legal and civil rights issues relating to free speech, CAIR encourages students, faculty, and community members to watch the webinar “Unconstitutional Crackdowns: What Muslim Americans Need to Know” at: action.cair.com/a/unconstitutionalcrackdowns-recording.
In May 2024, CAIR released ‘Hostile’: How Universities Target Anti-Genocide Protesters, detailing unprecedented efforts across the country to suppress students from advocating for Palestinians. Since then, CAIR has designated many colleges and universities as hostiledue to their creation of a thoroughly hostile and dangerous environment for anti-genocide students.
Students, staff, and faculty who wish for their university or college campus to be potentially designated as a hostile campus should complete the ‘Report a Hostile Campus’ form. Individuals seeking CAIR’s legal and advocacy services should contact their local office or chapter, or if there is no local chapter, file a formal report with CAIR’s National Civil Rights Department.
CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com