Muslim civil rights group calls on voters to contact their representatives to demand rejection of House Bill 187 and Senate Bill 148
(TAMPA, FL, 1/19/2024) – The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, calling on voters to ask state legislators to vote against Florida’s House Bill 187 and Senate Bill 148; both perceived as a threat to civil liberties, particularly the constitutional right to free speech for all Floridians.
CAIR-Florida is urging Florida residents to call state legislatures to vote against Senate Bill 148.
ACTION REQUESTED: Ask Your Florida Legislators to Protect All Religious Minorities and Reject Freedom of Speech Suppression Bills
Email your State Representative and Senator
CLICK HERE: https://cairfl.salsalabs.org/votenohb187-sb148/index.html
House Bill 187 passed January 18, 2024, with just three opposing votes.
CAIR-Florida has had numerous meetings with Florida elected officials to discuss concerns regarding the bill. Regardless of HB 187 passing in the House, CAIR-Florida has had positive outcomes in lobbying for the amendments to be added to Senate Bill 148, its counterpart.
HB 187 states that the Legislature adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) of the term “antisemitism” to assist in the monitoring and reporting of antisemitic hate crimes and discrimination and to make residents aware of and to combat such incidents in this state.
The IHRA’s extended definition includes criticisms of Israel, such as its settler colonialism, West Bank occupation, apartheid against Palestinians, ethnic cleansing, oppression, and the recent war crimes resulting in the loss of innocent lives. The original drafter of the IHRA definition called it a “working definition” and testified to Congress that if government bodies “enshrine this definition into law, outside groups will try and suppress – rather than answer – political speech they don’t like. The academy, Jewish students, and faculty teaching about Jewish issues, will all suffer.”
CAIR-Florida Executive Director Abdullah Jaber stated: “Our public call to action is directed to all Floridians, not exclusively the Muslim community. Legislation affecting our freedom of speech should not have space in our Florida legislature.”
Imam Jaber added: “All Floridians must voice their opposition to this and any other legislation that curtails our constitutionally protected freedom of speech, and that also ignores other persecuted religious minorities suffering bullying and hate crimes.”
CAIR-Florida is the state’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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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CONTACT: Wilfredo Amr Ruiz, CAIR-Florida Media and Outreach Director, Ph. (305) 502-6749, E: wruiz@cair.com