The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the pulling of Assembly Bill 715 (AB 715)—a deeply troubling bill that threatens academic freedom and targets educators who speak about Palestine—from tomorrow’s scheduled Senate Education Committee hearing agenda.
The delay comes after weeks of mounting public pressure, as students, educators, and advocates across the state organized in opposition to the bill.
In a statement, CAIR-CA Legislative & Government Affairs Director Oussama Mokeddem said:
“This is a positive development and a sign that our collective voice is being heard. AB 715 is a dangerous bill that undermines both academic freedom and the integrity of public education. It would be weaponized to silence critical perspectives on Palestine and global injustice and sets a troubling precedent for censorship in our state.”
CAIR-CA has strongly opposed AB 715, warning lawmakers that the bill reflects the goals of Project Esther, a national censorship campaign driven by the Heritage Foundation to suppress discourse on Palestine and reshape public education to fit political agendas.
In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Policy Coordinator Musa Tariq said:
“This delay is a testament to the powerful grassroots coalition that mobilized across California to challenge AB 715. Thousands of students, educators, and advocates made their voices heard—and lawmakers now have a chance to reconsider the consequences. We’ll continue to stand with communities defending the right to teach authentically and without political interference.”
CAIR-CA urges Senate leadership to listen to the overwhelming public opposition and reject AB 715 in its entirety and any future legislation that seeks to censor classroom discussions on Palestine.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACTS: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, 714.851.4851, eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Communications Contact Tasneem Manjra, 916.441.6469, tManjra@cair.com; CAIR San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, 760.201.7626, tnizam@cair.com; CAIR-SFBA Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, 408.498.5779, ladam@cair.com