Group calls for merit-based hiring, dedicated anti-Muslim discrimination role as state builds new civil rights system
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 8/10/2026) – The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for an early meeting with newly appointed Office of Civil Rights Director Lele Yutzy and urged state leaders to address anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian discrimination as California builds its new K-12 civil rights system.
CAIR-CA is calling on the state to fill remaining discrimination-prevention coordinator positions through California’s merit-based civil service process rather than political appointments and to establish a dedicated Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Muslim Discrimination through SB 998, pending legislation authored by Senator Lena Gonzalez.
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Yutzy to lead the new Office of Civil Rights within the Government Operations Agency. Yutzy has served since 2024 as systemwide senior director for civil rights in the California State University Chancellor’s Office and previously worked in the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
The office is part of a new discrimination-prevention framework established through AB 715 and SB 48. CAIR-CA, as part of the California Coalition to Defend Public Education, opposed both measures in 2025, citing concerns about the use of political appointments for civil rights positions that can influence state policy affecting students and schools.
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“The way California structures this new office will determine whether students can trust it to meaningfully address all forms of hate and discrimination and ensure every student is protected. That must include Muslim, Arab and Palestinian students, whose experiences and concerns cannot be treated as an afterthought. We look forward to meeting with Director Yutzy early and working in good faith to help ensure they are reflected in this new system from the beginning.”
Recent data underscores the need for stronger protections for Muslim students. CAIR-CA’s 2025 statewide bullying report found that half of Muslim students surveyed reported being bullied by peers because of their religious identity, while 67 percent of those students did not report the bullying to school staff. The California Attorney General’s 2025 Hate Crime Report separately recorded a 58 percent increase in reported anti-Muslim bias events statewide from 2024 to 2025. CAIR-CA offices also received 119 reports of hate crimes and hate incidents in 2025. Taken together, those figures do not fully capture the extent of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian harm, which remains substantially underreported.
CAIR-CA currently holds a Support if Amended position on SB 998, which would further define the duties and structure of the state’s discrimination-prevention coordinator system. The organization supports provisions clarifying coordinator responsibilities, adding a Disability Discrimination Prevention Coordinator and requiring training on discrimination and intersecting protected characteristics.
CAIR-CA is seeking two additional changes to the legislation.
First, the organization is urging the state to use California’s established merit-based civil service process to select discrimination-prevention coordinators rather than treating the positions as political appointments. CAIR-CA also continues to seek removal of the political appointment mechanism for the Antisemitism Prevention Coordinator created under AB 715.
Second, CAIR-CA is urging lawmakers to establish a Deputy Coordinator on Anti-Muslim Discrimination who would report to the Religious Discrimination Prevention Coordinator. The position would focus on resources for Muslim and Arab students, engagement with culturally relevant education organizations, annual data collection on anti-Muslim discrimination in schools and prevention strategies responsive to the ways religious, ethnic and cultural bias can overlap.
“We appreciate Senator Gonzalez’s engagement and SB 998’s recognition of anti-Muslim discrimination, but recognition alone is not enough,” said CAIR-CA Legislative and Government Affairs Director Oussama Mokeddem. “If California is creating dedicated infrastructure to prevent discrimination, anti-Muslim bias needs a clear and meaningful place within that structure. The Legislature should address that gap before these systems and appointments are finalized.”
CAIR-CA urged the Governor’s Office, the Government Operations Agency, Director Yutzy and legislative leaders to engage Muslim, Arab and Palestinian students, families, educators and civil rights organizations before the remaining coordinator positions are filled. The organization said meaningful independence, transparent qualifications and an explicit mandate to address anti-Muslim discrimination are essential to earning public trust.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, 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.
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CONTACT: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, 714.851.4851, [email protected]; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Senior Operations & Development Manager Elle Dunlap, [email protected]; CAIR San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, 760.201.7626, [email protected]; CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, 408.498.5779, [email protected]