The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), the nation’s largest American Muslim civil society umbrella organization, today announced the successful completion of the 10th Annual Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill. This year’s theme of #MuslimHillDay was “Upholding Civil Rights, Defending Free Speech, and Advocating for Justice,” which reflects the urgency and responsibility of our collective work.
Some 750 American Muslim strong delegates from 27 states traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with more than 210 congressional offices in the U.S. House and Senate over three days, from Monday, April 28th to Tuesday, April 29th. Muslim state delegations also scheduled dozens of additional drop-by visits.
Muslim delegates from across the nation visited the offices of their respective members of Congress, fostering meaningful dialogues on crucial issues impacting the Muslim American community. The primary focus of these meetings was to urge Muslims’ members of Congress to support:
- Protecting Free Speech and Nonprofit Advocacy Rights in the face of growing legislative threats and McCarthy-era investigations targeting Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, allied Jewish, and other community organizations;
- Opposing Discriminatory Travel Bans by supporting the NO BAN Act and rejecting the reimplementation of Muslim-majority country extreme visa restrictions; and
- Calling for U.S. Action to End Genocide and Human Rights Abuses in Gaza, Sudan, China (Xinjiang), and Burma (Myanmar), and India where Muslim communities face unspeakable violence and oppression.
In a statement, USCMO Secretary General Oussama Jammal said:
“This year’s 10th Annual National Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill powerfully demonstrated the unwavering civic commitment of the American Muslim community. From protecting free speech and nonprofit advocacy rights under increasing legislative attack, to rejecting any return of discriminatory travel bans, and urging an end to genocidal violence in Gaza, Sudan, China, India, and Burma- our voices rang out with moral clarity and conviction.
“In solidarity with student protesters and allied advocacy organizations, we stood firm against McCarthy-era investigations that seek to silence Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, Jewish, and human rights groups. At every meeting with members of Congress, we demanded accountability, justice, and policies that reflect the dignity and rights of all people.
“We are proud to have hosted our largest delegation to date, with a record-breaking number of congressional engagements. This speaks to the growing impact of American Muslims in shaping a more just and inclusive society. USCMO is deeply grateful to every participant, community leader, and congressional office who helped make this milestone year a success.”
In a statement, Robert S. McCaw, Chair of the USCMO National Muslim Advocacy Day Steering Committee and CAIR Director of Government Affairs, said:
“The importance of hundreds of Muslim delegates from across the nation walking the halls of Congress, expanding our community’s presence, relationships, and reach cannot be overstated. As Congress continues to fund foreign governments responsible for mass atrocities, including Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, our presence on Capitol Hill served as a moral counterweight. American Muslims came to remind legislators that our communities will not be complicit in funding war crimes, nor will we remain silent as free speech and humanitarian advocacy are criminalized.
“We demanded that Congress pass the NO BAN Act, halt support for authoritarian regimes targeting Muslim minorities, and protect the rights of nonprofits and activists advocating for justice at home and abroad. In every office, our delegates delivered a clear message: dignity, freedom, and human rights are not negotiable.”
In addition to meetings with members of Congress, USCMO hosted a robust policy and advocacy training session at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center auditorium on Monday morning. This session prepared hundreds of participants with the tools and talking points to effectively advocate on critical civil rights and foreign policy issues.
Throughout the week, Muslim delegates operated out of the Rayburn House Office Building, providing a strategic hub for coordinated advocacy. This setup enabled efficient communication and collaboration among the record number of attendees, amplifying the collective impact of the 10th Annual Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill.
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