CAIR-Texas: DOJ opens investigation into proposed Muslim-centric development in Collin County– ABC
Following Cornyn’s April request for a DOJ investigation into EPIC City, the Council on American-Islamic Relations sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, calling on the DOJ to reject Cornyn’s request.
“Senator Cornyn’s request is not only factually baseless. It weaponizes tired Islamophobic tropes to portray a peaceful, inclusive development project as suspicious simply because it is Muslim-led,” CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw said in a statement. “Rather than targeting Muslim charities working to build family-centered communities, the Department of Justice should investigate Texas officials who appear to be violating the Constitution by singling out Muslims for political gain.”
CAIR: Trump administration praises Columbia’s response to protest after arrests – Washington Post
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the deputy executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, criticized Columbia’s decision to call the police on protesters.
“By quickly calling in the NYPD to round up students holding a peaceful sit-in, Columbia University just showed that it has not learned anything from the anti-genocide protests it brutally dispersed last school year or the anti-Vietnam and anti-racism protests that it dispersed on campus 50 years ago,” he said. “It is long past time for Columbia to respectfully engage with peacefully protesting students instead of calling in the police to brutalize them.”
CAIR: White House praises Columbia’s response after 80 arrested in pro-Palestinian protest at campus library – CNN
Meanwhile, advocacy groups including the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Council on American-Islamic Relations criticized Columbia’s decision to call in the NYPD, saying the university’s swift response was intended to appease the Trump administration as it cracks down on pro-Palestine activists.
CAIR: How Immigration Lawyers are Navigating Legal Chaos Under Trump – Documented NY
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has stepped up advocacy and legal Know Your Rights training as well. Earlier this year, CAIR launched new Know Your Rights resources including guides on how Muslims can navigate increased scrutiny at airports, stressing the right to travel in peace and urging any Muslims who have faced harassment to document the incident in a statement of fact. They also released a guide on what to do if ICE visits a mosque.
CAIR-SFBA: Sunnyvale under fire over festival booth controversy – San Jose Spotlight
CAIR-AZ: Gov. Katie Hobbs signs bill on campus encampments, enshrining ban in Arizona law
– Arizona Republic
But several pro-Palestinian advocates and free speech groups said the new policy was stepping on students’ First Amendment rights. The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona and the Council on American-Islamic Relations Arizona were publicly against the proposed legislation, saying it would target pro-Palestinian voices on campuses.