Yesterday, more than 200 Maryland constituents participated in the 2024 Muslim Lobby Day held at the House of Delegates in the state capital of Annapolis.
SEE: American Muslims meet in Annapolis Monday to lobby state lawmakers (WMAR 2)
The event was co-hosted by the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in partnership with Islamic Maryland Action Network (IMAN) including the Prince George’s County Muslim Council, Justice For All, United Maryland Muslim Council and over two dozen mosques and Muslim organizations representing 350K+ Muslim community members.
The theme of this year’s lobby day was ‘Maryland for Ceasefire.’ The event is the largest annual statewide gathering aimed at connecting Muslim constituents with their state legislators.
A delegation of Palestinian constituents, including many families from Gaza who have loved ones killed in the recent weeks of genocide, were invited to the House Chamber in the State House to be acknowledged by lawmakers from the House Floor.
VIDEO: Maryland State Lawmakers Recognize Palestinian Constituents from House Floor
In his remarks, State Delegate Gabriel Acevero, who earlier this session introduced House Joint Resolution HJ0002 Ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, said in part:
“Joining us some who are in the gallery this evening and some who are outside but couldn’t make it inside aren’t just activists but also Palestinian Americans from across our state. Those who have lost family and loved ones in Gaza. What’s happening in Gaza is a travesty and a crisis of humanity and today close to 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as well as the West Bank, majority of which are women and children. This conflict is being felt both at home and abroad and mounting death toll is having a psychological trauma on survivors is impossible to ignore. Over 65 percent of Americans support a permanent, long-lasting ceasefire, and recently the United Nations voted for a resolution calling for the same. So tonight is a solemn recognition not just of my constituents, but so many other Palestinian Americans and their families who have experienced unimaginable pain and suffering and the thousands of innocent lives and futures that have been curtailed as a result.”
The remarks were followed by applause. In addition to Senate and House Joint Resolutions SJ0005/HJ0002 for ceasefire, Lobby Day participants urged state senators and delegates to support or oppose over a dozen other bills on a wide range of issues that impact and interest Maryland’s diverse communities. These issues include protecting free speech and juvenile justice reforms, maintaining the Muslim voice on the statewide Hate Crimes Commission, passing the Voting Rights Act of 2024 and the Second Chance Act, supporting anti-doxxing bills, passing an anti-hate resolution, and more.
SEE: 2024 Legislative Priorities
In a statement, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“The community members who came to Annapolis yesterday to make their voices heard, advocated not just on behalf of diverse communities here in Maryland, but also for an end to the genocide, famine and suffering in Palestine. In these unprecedented times, the Muslim community will continue to step up our engagement with stakeholders and policy makers and urge them to use their platforms and power responsibly by legislating humane, just and ethical policies.”
“PGCMC was pleased to join with other Muslim organizations and individuals from throughout the state of Maryland to advocate for policies that support the Muslim community and the quality of life of all Marylanders and to advocate against policies that would be discriminatory or detrimental to us and our neighbors,” said IMAN Network Co-founder and Prince George’s County Muslim Council President Jameel Johnson.
“It was amazing to see how mobilized and engaged our community is this session, and we look forward to continuing to do the work to have our voices heard in Annapolis,” said IMAN Network Co-founder Samya Mohammad.
“Seeing Muslims in Annapolis engaging with elected officials in this time of deep grief and trauma in our communities was very uplifting,” said IMAN Network Co-founder and Justice For All Director Hena Zuberi. “We are using our pain to advocate for sensible laws that make Maryland a better place for all.”
“Keeping our mission of activating and encouraging Muslims of Maryland to engage in mainstream politics and civic engagement United Maryland Muslim Council is proud to have partnered with other organizations for a very successful Muslim Lobby Day in Annapolis yesterday 6/26/24,” said United Maryland Muslim Council President Dr. Shahid Rafiq. “The Muslim community in Maryland is very involved and excited to play its vital role for a peaceful Maryland with freedom of speech and justice for all.”
The groups are encouraging Maryland community members to continue reaching out to their state legislators and urge them to support the bills highlighted in the lobby day legislative agenda.
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.
The IMAN Network is Maryland’s statewide Muslim crisis response working group. Its mission is to foster a coordinated, compassionate, and effective response to crises, uniting diverse Muslim communities across the state.
END
CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, 410-971-6062, zchaudry@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, rmccaw@cair.com; IMAN Network Team Lead Samya Mohammad, samya@imanaction.org