The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for an investigation into possible ethics violations after several Maryland state legislators chose to participate in the controversial “50 States One Israel” propaganda trip as the United Nations concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
[NOTE: Last week, CAIR’s Ohio chapter welcomed Ohio state Senator Beth Liston’s moral decision to cancel paid trip to visit the genocidal Israeli regime.]
CAIR is urging community members to send a letter to the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics (JCLE) urging them to investigate whether ethical violations occurred.
TAKE ACTION: Call on Maryland’s Ethics Committee to Investigate Legislators’ Participation in “50 States One Israel” Trip
The JCLE is tasked with enforcing the state’s Public Ethics Law, providing advisory opinions, and reviewing conflicts of interest in legislative matters. Constituents rely on this body to help ensure lawmakers are held to the highest standards.
“Together, we can make sure Maryland’s lawmakers reflect the values of justice and human rights — not political expediency at the expense of Palestinian lives,” said CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry.
BACKGROUNDER:
On September 16, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry released its most serious findings to date, determining that Israel is engaged in genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
SEE: CAIR Calls Genocide in Gaza ‘Undeniable’ After Recognition by UN Commission
Despite this urgent and historic conclusion, Maryland lawmakers — Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D), Rep. Nic Kipke (R), Sen. Mike McKay (R), and Sen. Johnny Ray Salling (R) — joined state legislators from across the United States in a trip in political solidarity with Israel’s government as it continues its rampage of mass violence and human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@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