On Tuesday, April 7 (12 p.m.), the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-FL), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, plans to hold a press conference to respond to the governor’s signature of the “draconian” bill HB 1471, which jeopardizes student speech and free expression.
CAIR-FL leadership will react to the passage of controversial legislation that has been perceived as an attempt to establish a police state in violation of our constitutional rights to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and due process.
The press conference will be held simultaneously at the following two CAIR-FL office locations:
WHAT: Press Conference Responding Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Signing of the “Police State” Bill into Law
WHEN: Tuesday, April 7, 2026, 12:00 P.M. ET
WHERE: (Tampa Main Office): 8076 N 56th St., Tampa, FL 33617
WHERE: (Sunrise Office): 9000 NW 44th St., Suite 200, Sunrise, FL 33351
CONTACT: Wilfredo A. Ruiz, CAIR-Florida Communications Director, (305) 502-6749, wruiz@cair.com; Chelsea Mandrigues, CAIR-Florida Communications Coordinator, (813) 705-5440, cmandrigues@cair.com
The press conference will be livestreamed at Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cairflorida
CAIR-Florida Executive Director Hiba Rahim stated:
“We have already been unjustly targeted – most notably when Governor DeSantis falsely labeled CAIR as terrorists without lawful authority or evidence. When HB 1471 was filed, it seemed clear that this was an agenda-driven bill. Then, the Tampa Bay Times reported that the Governor’s office played a direct role in authoring this bill. That reaffirmed suspicions and raised serious concerns about the erosion of the separation of powers and the use of legislative authority to advance a political agenda.
“This is not just about CAIR. This expanded and deeply-flawed framework can attack any organization that dares to dissent. As Floridians, together, we’ll watch how this unprecedented law is enforced, and whether it is used or abused.”
BACKGROUNDER:
CAIR-Florida previously issued a statement regarding the “Police State” Bills passage.
SEE: CAIR-Florida Condemns “Draconian” Police State Bills Awaiting Gov. DeSantis’ Signature
In March, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Akeel & Valentine, CAIR Legal Defense Fund (CAIR LDF), and the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA) won an injunction in a federal lawsuit challenging DeSantis’ “blatantly unconstitutional” executive order targeting the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and CAIR-Florida.
At the national level, CAIR designated the “Sharia-Free America Caucus” as an anti-Muslim hate group. This is the first time in CAIR’s 32-year history that the organization has designated a congressional caucus as an extremist organization.
SEE: CAIR Designates House’s ‘Sharia-Free Caucus’ an Anti-Muslim Hate Group
CAIR-Florida’s mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and promote understanding through advocacy and education.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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