The New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, along with Young Muslims (YM) led a delegation of nearly 100 constituents from New Jersey to Capitol Hill for the 11th Annual #MuslimHillDay.
Every year, CAIR-NJ, as part of the broader United States Council of Muslim Organizations, meets with House and Senate offices to advocate for ways to strengthen and protect Muslim American communities. This year, the New Jersey delegation met with 8 of our elected Representatives’ and Senators’ offices to ask them to:
- Oppose the anti-Muslim Caucus and discriminatory legislation;
- Defend free speech, and protect immigrant communities;
- End endless wars and reassert congressional war powers.
In a statement, Naureen Akhter, Public Affairs Director for CAIR-NJ, said:
“While on the Hill, one of our 15-year-old advocates was told to go back home – highlighting the type of Islamophobia our community experiences every day. We urged our elected officials to lead the fight against Islamophobia, protect our constitutionally guaranteed right to protest, and to use their Congressional authority to end the war in Iran and stop further arms transfers to Israel. We were happy to have met with 8 of our elected officials and/or staff. We encourage Representatives Norcross, Gottheimer, Smith, Van Drew and Kean Jr. to meet with their constituents to better understand the challenges we face every day.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Public Affairs Director Naureen Akhter, nakhter@cair.com, 908-921-1238