(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/7/2018) – The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is again calling on all Americans who respect the Constitution and value human rights to tell their Senators and members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to oppose the confirmation of Gina Haspel as the new CIA director.

Haspel is scheduled to appear before the committee on Wednesday and reportedly considered withdrawing from the nomination process because of increasing opposition to her past actions.

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL AND CALL THE U.S. SENATE AND SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE TO OPPOSE HASPEL’S CONFIRMATION AS CIA DIRECTOR

While at the CIA, Haspel not only oversaw the torture of detainees, but she helped destroy the evidence documenting the abuses in direct violation of U.S. law and executive orders.

SEE: Don’t Reward Gina Haspel for the Torture of Muslims

In addition to issuing a click-and-send action alert, CAIR is releasing a congressional fact sheet, titled “U.S. Senate: Oppose and Block the Confirmation of Torturer Gina Haspel as CIA Director,” for concerned citizens and activists to forward on to their senators and members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Members of the public are being asked to take the following actions to oppose and block Haspel’s confirmation as CIA Director:

• Take part in CAIR’s action alert to email and call your state’s U.S. senate delegation and members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to oppose and block Haspel’s confirmation.
• Read CAIR’s congressional factsheet “U.S. Senate: Oppose and Block the Confirmation of Torturer Gina Haspel to CIA Director,” which can be found here. Forward this factsheet along to your state’s Senate delegation, and members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

• Organize locally. Connect with neighbors, your house of worship, state or city CAIR chapter, and other non-profits interested in requesting the Senate to oppose and block Haspel’s confirmation.
• Call and schedule constituent meetings with your state’s U.S. Senate delegation urging opposition to Haspel’s confirmation should it come to a vote on the Senate floor.
  • Contact information for members of the U.S. Senate can be found here.
  • Contact information for local CAIR chapters can be found here.
  • A checklist on meeting with an elected official and ensuring an effective meeting with an elected official can be found in CAIR’s policy toolkit: “Recognizing American Muslim Contributions in our States.”
• Call the offices of members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence urging them to oppose and block Haspel’s confirmation during the hearing that is reported to take place sometime in April. A call script is provided below.
  • Please note: Individuals that live in states that have a senator who serves on the committee can use their influence as a constituent to exert additional pressure.
• Write an editorial for your local newspaper and other online state or regional news forums that your state’s senate delegation is likely to read. Use this press release and the points made by CAIR’s congressional factsheet opposing Haspel’s confirmation. For more helpful suggestions, refer to “13 OP-ED TIPS,” from New York Times writer, Jennifer Finney Boylan.

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/26/18) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today urged the nation’s Muslim community to prepare for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan by better understanding their legal rights in the workplace and school. 

WATCH: Know Your Rights: Religious Accommodations at Work and in School

Helpful tips to remember when asking for a Religious Accommodation from your Employer:

• Familiarize yourself with your employer’s procedures for requesting religious accommodations;
• Make it clear that you are requesting the accommodation because of your sincere religious belief or practice; 
• Make the formal request to your direct supervisor or to the person designated by company policy;
• Follow up your formal request in writing; and
• Parents are encouraged to contact their children’s schools and teachers in advance to request religious accommodations for their children during Ramadan. Continue the conversation with your employer. 

Accommodation requests can include being excused from strenuous physical activity and a day off for upcoming Eid religious holiday. 

For assistance requesting a religious accommodation, community members are encouraged to contact their local CAIR chapter or CAIR's Civil Rights Department by filing a report at http://www.cair.com/report or by calling CAIR’s civil rights hotline at 202-742-6420.

Rally to coincide with Supreme Court hearing oral arguments on Trump’s ‘Muslim Ban 3.0

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/24/18) -- On Wednesday, April 25, as the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the case challenging President Trump’s “Muslim Ban 3.0,” the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will join a coalition of national and local civil and human rights groups and American Muslim organizations for a #NoMuslimBanEver rally outside the Supreme Court building.

For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/events/442545896184308/

Video: CAIR Director Urges Community to Turn Out for April 25 Supreme Court Hearing on Muslim Ban 

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad will be one of the featured speakers during the event.

“This rally will show that the Muslim community, in coalition with the others minority communities under attack by this administration, are mobilizing against President Trump’s unconstitutional anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant and anti-refugee agenda,” said CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw.

WHAT: #NoMuslimBanEver Rally

WHEN: Wednesday, April 25, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Outside the Supreme Court of the United States, 1 First St NE, Washington, DC 20543

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com

The #NoMuslimBanEver campaign, a coalition of national and local civil and human rights groups and American Muslim organizations, is mobilizing and organizing events around the country to help lead the fight against President Trump’s latest unconstitutional Muslim ban, as well as other discriminatory immigration policies that criminalize and negatively impact American Muslim communities across the country.

#NoMuslimBanEver coalition members previously co-sponsored a rally and march outside the White House on October 18, 2017, the date the president’s most recent Muslim Ban was scheduled to take effect.

CAIR said it has witnessed an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president. The Washington-based civil rights organization has also repeatedly expressed concern about Islamophobic and racist Trump administration policies and appointments.

Video: CAIR News Conference Announcing Release of 2018 Civil Rights Report

The Washington-based civil rights and advocacy organization urges community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/report

CAIR launched an app to share critical “know your rights” information and to simplify the process to report hate crimes and bias incidents. CAIR is urging American Muslims and members of other minority groups to download the app and utilize this resource to stay informed and empowered.

For a quick download of CAIR’s civil rights app, click here: http://www.cair.com/app

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

- END –

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/10/18) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on all those who value America’s traditions of religious inclusion and respect for diversity to contact members of the U.S. Senate to oppose the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as secretary of state before a hearing on his confirmation this Thursday. 

CAIR is suggesting people use its click-and-send action alert to urge senators and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation.

• CLICK HERE TO SEND CAIR’S ACTION ALERT TO THE U.S. SENATE

In addition to issuing the action alert, CAIR released a congressional fact sheet, titled “U.S. Senate: Oppose and Block the Confirmation of Islamophobe Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State,” for concerned citizens and activists to forward on to their senators and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Full Committee Hearing Nomination: The Honorable Mike Pompeo

OF KANSAS, TO BE SECRETARY OF STATE

• CLICK HERE TO READ CAIR’S CONGRESSIONAL FACT SHEET OPPOSING POMPEO’S NOMINATION

The Washington-based civil rights organization is calling on all Americans to urge members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose Pompeo’s confirmation and to question him about his past anti-Muslim statements, about current associations with anti-Muslim hate groups and about his views on supporting torture, keeping the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo open and framing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as religious wars.

SEE: Pompeo and Bolton Appointments Raise Alarm Over Ties to Anti-Islam Groups (NY Times)

Act Now: See Instructions, Resources, Phone Numbers and Call Script Below

Members of the public may also call the offices of members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations urging them to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation during the hearing. A call script is provided below. Please note: Individuals that live in states that have a senator who serves on the committee can use their influence as a constituent to exert additional pressure.

Contact Information: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (by leadership then state)

• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (Republican, Tennessee) – Phone: 202-224-3344
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Ranking Member Bob Menendez (Democrat, New Jersey) – Phone: 202-224-4744
• Senator Jeff Flake (Republican, Arizona) – Phone: 202-224-4521
• Senator Cory Gardner (Republican, Colorado) – Phone: 202-224-5941
• Senator Chris Murphy (Democrat, Connecticut) – Phone: 202-224-4041
• Senator Christopher Coons (Democrat, Delaware) – Phone: 202-224-5042
• Senator Marco Rubio (Republican, Florida) – Phone: 202-224-3041
• Senator Johnny Isakson (Republican, Georgia) – Phone: 202-224-5623
• Senator Todd Young (Republican, Indiana) – Phone: 202-224-5623
• Senator Rand Paul (Republican, Kentucky) – Phone: 202-224-4343
• Senator Edward J. Markey (Democrat, Massachusetts) – Phone: 202-224-2742
• Senator Jeanne Shahen (Democrat, New Hampshire) – Phone: 202-224-2841
• Senator Cory Booker (Democrat, New Jersey) – Phone: 202-224-3224
• Senator Tom Udall (Democrat, New Mexico) – Phone: 202-224-6621
• Senator Rob Portman (Republican, Ohio) – Phone: 202-224-3353
• Senator Jeff Merkley (Democrat, Oregon) – Website click here.
• Senator Tim Kaine (Democrat, Virginia) – Phone: 202-224-3753
• Senator Ron Johnson (Republican, Wisconsin) – Phone: 202-228-6965
• Senator John Barrasso (Republican, Wyoming) – Phone: 202-224-6441

Call Script: Suggested Message to U.S. Senators: “Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I am calling to urge Senator [NAME OF SENATOR] to “OPPOSE” and “VOTE NO” on the confirmation of Mike Pompeo due to his expressed Islamophobic views and association with an anti-Muslim hate groups and his views on supporting torture, keeping the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo open, and framing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as religious wars. Pompeo serving as secretary of state would harm our nation’s image and relations with key players in the international community. Thank you.”

Report back to CAIR any progress made in pushing your state’s senate delegation or members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose or block Pompeo’s confirmation. Contact CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert McCaw by email at rmccaw@cair.com, with subject line: “Pompeo.”

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/28/2018) – The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is calling on all Americans who respect the Constitution and value human rights to tell their Senators and members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to oppose the confirmation of Gina Haspel as the new CIA director.

CLICK HERE TO EMAIL AND CALL THE U.S. SENATE AND SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE TO OPPOSE HASPEL’S CONFIRMATION AS CIA DIRECTOR

While at the CIA, Haspel not only oversaw the torture of detainees, but she helped destroy the evidence documenting the abuses in direct violation of U.S. law and executive orders.

“Not only did Haspel personally oversee the torture of an individual, but she also developed a secret laboratory to torture detainees at the CIA’s Thailand ‘black site’ and destroyed evidence to cover up agency abuses. She clearly lacks the moral conscience and fitness to hold any position of authority and responsibility, especially one with grave national security implications, such as the director of the CIA,” said CAIR Government Affairs Department Coordinator Amineh Safi.  

In addition to issuing a click-and-send action alert, CAIR is releasing a congressional fact sheet, titled “U.S. Senate: Oppose and Block the Confirmation of Torturer Gina Haspel as CIA Director,” for concerned citizens and activists to forward on to their senators and members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Members of the public are being asked to take the following actions to oppose and block Haspel’s confirmation as CIA Director:

• Take part in CAIR’s action alert to email and call your state’s U.S. senate delegation and members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to oppose and block Haspel’s confirmation.
• Read CAIR’s congressional factsheet “U.S. Senate: Oppose and Block the Confirmation of Torturer Gina Haspel to CIA Director,” which can be found here. Forward this factsheet along to your state’s Senate delegation, and members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

• Organize locally. Connect with neighbors, your house of worship, state or city CAIR chapter, and other non-profits interested in requesting the Senate to oppose and block Haspel’s confirmation.
• Call and schedule constituent meetings with your state’s U.S. Senate delegation urging opposition to Haspel’s confirmation should it come to a vote on the Senate floor.
  • Contact information for members of the U.S. Senate can be found here.
  • Contact information for local CAIR chapters can be found here.
  • A checklist on meeting with an elected official and ensuring an effective meeting with an elected official can be found in CAIR’s policy toolkit: “Recognizing American Muslim Contributions in our States.”
• Call the offices of members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence urging them to oppose and block Haspel’s confirmation during the hearing that is reported to take place sometime in April. A call script is provided below.
  • Please note: Individuals that live in states that have a senator who serves on the committee can use their influence as a constituent to exert additional pressure.
• Write an editorial for your local newspaper and other online state or regional news forums that your state’s senate delegation is likely to read. Use this press release and the points made by CAIR’s congressional factsheet opposing Haspel’s confirmation. For more helpful suggestions, refer to “13 OP-ED TIPS,” from New York Times writer, Jennifer Finney Boylan.

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/19/18) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is calling on all those who value America’s traditions of religious inclusion and respect for diversity to urge the Senate to oppose the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as secretary of state. 

CAIR is releasing seven steps people can take to urge their senators and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation.

• CLICK HERE TO SEND CAIR’S ACTION ALERT TO THE U.S. SENATE - CLICK HERE TO READ CAIR’S CONGRESSIONAL FACT SHEET OPPOSING POMPEO’S NOMINATION

“Mr. Pompeo’s expressed Islamophobic views and association with a virulent anti-Muslim hate group should disqualify him from being confirmed as secretary of state,” said CAIR Director of Government Affairs Department Robert McCaw. “Americans must unite together in opposing Pompeo’s confirmation to prevent any harm he may do to our nation’s image and to relations abroad.”

McCaw said CAIR is calling on all Americans to urge members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose Pompeo’s confirmation and to question him about his past anti-Muslim statements, about current associations with anti-Muslim hate groups and about his views on supporting torture, keeping the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo open and framing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as religious wars.

In addition to issuing a click-and-send action alert, CAIR is releasing a congressional fact sheet, titled “U.S. Senate: Oppose and Block the Confirmation of Islamophobe Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State,” for concerned citizens and activists to forward on to their senators and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Act Now: See Instructions, Resources, Phone Numbers and Call Script Below

Members of the public are being asked to take the following actions to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation as secretary of state:

• Take part in CAIR’s click-and-send action alert to email your state’s U.S. senate delegation and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation.
• Take action today, click here. 
  Read CAIR’s congressional factsheet “U.S. Senate: Oppose and Block the Confirmation of Islamophobe Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State,” which can be found here. Forward this factsheet along to your state’s Senate delegation, and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 
• Organize locally. Connect with neighbors, your house of worship, state or city CAIR chapter, and other non-profits interested in requesting the Senate to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation.
• Call and schedule constituent meetings with your state’s U.S. Senate delegation urging opposition to Pompeo’s confirmation should it come to a vote on the Senate floor. Contact information for members of the U.S. Senate can be found here. Contact information for local CAIR chapters can be found here. A checklist on meeting with an elected official and ensuring an effective meeting with an elected official can be found in CAIR’s policy toolkit: “Recognizing American Muslim Contributions in our States.” 
• Call the offices of members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations urging them to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation during the hearing that is reported to take place sometime in April. A call script is provided below. 
• Please note: Individuals that live in states that have a senator who serves on the committee can use their influence as a constituent to exert additional pressure.

Contact Information: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (by leadership then state)

• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker (Republican, Tennessee) – Phone: 202-224-3344, Website click here.
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Ranking Member Bob Menendez (Democrat, New Jersey) – Phone: 202-224-4744, Website click here.
• Senator Jeff Flake (Republican, Arizona) – Phone: 202-224-4521, Website click here.
• Senator Cory Gardner (Republican, Colorado) – Phone: 202-224-5941, Website click here.
• Senator Chris Murphy (Democrat, Connecticut) – Phone: 202-224-4041, Website click here.
• Senator Christopher Coons (Democrat, Delaware) – Phone: 202-224-5042, Website click here.
• Senator Marco Rubio (Republican, Florida) – Phone: 202-224-3041, Website click here.
• Senator Johnny Isakson (Republican, Georgia) – Phone: 202-224-5623, Website click here.
• Senator Todd Young (Republican, Indiana) – Phone: 202-224-5623, Website click here.
• Senator Rand Paul (Republican, Kentucky) – Phone: 202-224-4343, Website click here.
• Senator Edward J. Markey (Democrat, Massachusetts) – Phone: 202-224-2742, Website click here.
• Senator Jeanne Shahen (Democrat, New Hampshire) – Phone: 202-224-2841, Website click here.
• Senator Cory Booker (Democrat, New Jersey) – Phone: 202-224-3224, Website click here.
• Senator Tom Udall (Democrat, New Mexico) – Phone: 202-224-6621, Website click here.
• Senator Rob Portman (Republican, Ohio) – Phone: 202-224-3353, Website click here.
• Senator Jeff Merkley (Democrat, Oregon) – Website click here.
• Senator Tim Kaine (Democrat, Virginia) – Phone: 202-224-3753, Website click here.
• Senator Ron Johnson (Republican, Wisconsin) – Phone: 202-228-6965, Website click here.
• Senator John Barrasso (Republican, Wyoming) – Phone: 202-224-6441, Website click here.

• Call Script: Suggested Message to U.S. Senators: “Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I am calling to urge Senator [NAME OF SENATOR] to “OPPOSE” and “VOTE NO” on the confirmation of Mike Pompeo due to his expressed Islamophobic views and association with an anti-Muslim hate groups and his views on supporting torture, keeping the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo open, and framing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as religious wars. Pompeo serving as secretary of state would harm our nation’s image and relations with key players in the international community. Thank you.” 
• Write an editorial for your local newspaper and other online state or regional news forums that your state’s senate delegation is likely to read. Use this press release and the points made by CAIR’s congressional factsheet opposing Pompeo’s confirmation. For more helpful suggestions, refer to “13 OP-ED TIPS,” from New York Times writer, Jennifer Finney Boylan.
• Report back to CAIR any progress made in pushing your state’s senate delegation or members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose or block Pompeo’s confirmation. Contact  CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert McCaw by email at rmccaw@cair.com, with subject line: “Pompeo Tip.”

If you have difficulty reaching senate offices using these numbers, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be transferred.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.  

- END -

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/7/18) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, is urging all Americans concerned about human rights to contact the chair of Maryland legislature’s Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, the Honorable Delegate Anne Healy, and urge her to approve HB1787 - Prevention of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity so that the House Speaker may refer it to the appropriate standing committee for consideration.

SEE: HB1787 - Prevention of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity 

This legislation would mandate that the state upholds Maryland values by spending and investing taxpayer dollars in a manner that promotes human rights and does not support genocide. It aims to ensure that the State of Maryland uses these funds to help encourage corporations to not engage in business with governments that commit crimes against humanity and violate basic human rights.

The bill, which was drafted in consultation with subject matter experts around their travel schedule, is currently in the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee. 

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED: 

Contact Honorable MD State Delegate Anne Healy

Chair, Rules and Executive Nominations Committee 

Phone: (410) 841-3961

Email: anne.healey@house.state.md.us

Respectfully and firmly ask that she approve HB1787, Maryland Bill to End Genocide, so that it may be assigned to an appropriate standing committee for consideration. 

“We collectively have a responsibility to ensure that our tax dollars are spent ethically and responsibly, and do not perpetuate abusive, unjust policies against any population,” said CAIR’s Maryland representative Zainab Chaudry. “If passed, this historic, consequential and meticulously-crafted legislation will help pressure governments to develop sound, humane practices that foster corporate investment and trade.”

(Miami, FL, 3/7/2018) - The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida), the State's largest civil rights and advocacy organization, is urging all those who value our student's school safety to join CAIR-Florida in urging the Citrus County School District to immediately remove Dayanna Volitich, a social studies teacher at Crystal River Middle School running a racist podcast.

"Volitich's clear anti-Islamic and xenophobic convictions are dangerous, not only to the education of Crystal River students but to local and state communities at large. It makes us all less safe, is misrepresentative, and furthers the Islamophobic agenda. The only element that should be eradicated from this earth, or the classroom for that matter, is 'hate' - not a religion that teaches peace, understanding, and compassion," said CAIR-Florida's Central Florida Regional Director, Rasha Mubarak.

Action Alert 1:

CAIR-Florida welcomes Crystal River Middle School's Superintendent Sandra Himmel's decision to immediately remove Dayanna Volitich, also known as Tiana Dalichov, a social studies teacher who ran a racist podcast: "Unapologetic.”

If the investigation confirms the allegations that Volitich was pushing her views in the classroom, CAIR-Florida requests that Superintendent Himmel demands Volitich's permanent termination as such conduct would clearly violate Florida's Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession and federal laws. 

Along with her termination, CAIR-Florida's seeks that the School District issue a condemnation, an apology, and offer an Islam 101 educational workshop to its educators. 

LINK to Action Alert 1 

Action Alert 2:

(Miami, FL, 2/14/2018) - The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida), the nation's largest civil rights and advocacy organization, today thanked State Senator Victor Torres for his unshakable fight to protect civil liberties for all by opposing unconstitutional "anti-BDS" legislation and urges his peers in the Florida Senate to mirror his stance and oppose the "Israel Anti-Boycott Act."

ACT NOW: Click Here To E-mail your Florida Senators Before 1:00 PM on Thursday, February 15th, And Urge Them to Vote NO on SB 780

CAIR-Florida and other civil rights organizations state that proposed legislation would violate the constitutionally-guaranteed free speech rights of American business owners and individuals who participate in the international boycott of Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine territories. Boycotts such as the Montgomery Bus boycott against segregation or the boycott of companies enabling South African Apartheid were employed successfully in support of civil and human rights and as an integral part of our political process.

The Israel Anti-Boycott Act (SB 780) was introduced at a time when Palestinian human rights activists in the United States and elsewhere embraced boycotts as a strong, peaceful, and effective tool to pressure the Israeli government to respect the human rights of Palestinians and to influence the American public to join them and do the same.

"We call on our state senators to defend the rights of all Floridians to express their political beliefs without fear of government retaliation or retribution," said CAIR-Florida’s Orlando Regional Director Rasha Mubarak.

SB 780 is a threat to the free speech of all Americans and is clearly unconstitutional. The act would charge those American business owners and individuals who participate in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement with criminal penalties. CAIR-Florida believes that American involvement in foreign boycotts started with dumping tea into Boston Harbor. It is un-American and illegal for the U.S. Government to deny U.S. businesses and individuals the right to work to change the illegal and discriminatory actions of a foreign government.

CAIR-Florida is the state's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties of all people, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR-Florida es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

(Miami, FL, 2/12/2018) - The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Florida), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is urging all those who value the First Amendment to join CAIR-Florida, Jewish Voice for Peace, Dream Defenders, and many other community organizations who are part of the Florida Palestine Solidarity Coalition in signing a petition to stop Florida legislators from canceling international pop-star Lorde's scheduled performances in Tampa and Miami on April 12th.

On April 11th and 12th, Lorde is scheduled to perform first in Tampa and then Miami. Due to 2016

Florida anti-BDS legislation (SB 86), the state is prohibited from engaging with contractors who conduct at least 1 million dollars of business and are participating in the Boycott, Divest and Sanction movement (BDS) against the state of Israel. This year, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (SB 780) was introduced at a time when Palestinian human rights activists in the United States and elsewhere have embraced boycotts as a strong, peaceful and effective tool to pressure the Israeli government to respect the human rights of Palestinians and to influence the American public to join in doing the same.

Under this legislation, Representative Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, is urging the Miami Sports and Exhibition Authority as well as the Tampa Sports Authority to cancel Lorde's upcoming events in the respective cities. This act is completely unconstitutional and violates the freedom of speech rights of the artist, as well as any other potential contractors, to participate in the peaceful BDS movement against Israel.

SEE HERE: Florida lawmaker wants to force Lorde to cancel her shows because of her stance on the BDS movement

CAIR-Florida strongly believes that cancelling Lorde's performances would violate the constitutionally-guaranteed free speech rights of business owners and individuals who participate in the international boycott of Israel's illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories. Boycotts such as the Montgomery Bus boycott against segregation or the boycott of companies enabling South African Apartheid have been employed successfully in support of civil and human rights and as an integral part of our political process.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION HERE: Do not cancel Lorde's Florida concerts because of anti-free speech laws!

"As the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (SB 780) moves forward in our state legislature, we are unfortunately already experiencing what we had been anticipating: an infringement of our constitutionally protected freedom of speech rights. The repercussion of last year's anti-BDS bill that unconstitutionally blocks state or local governments from conducting business exceeding $1 million with any organization engaged in a boycott of Israel. Lorde, an artist who has chosen to bravely use her platform to boycott what she believes to be an injustice to the Palestinian people, has become our ally in the fight for justice and the protection of the civil liberties of all Florida residents." said Rasha Mubarak, CAIR-Florida's Central Florida Regional Director.

CAIR-Florida is the state's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties of all people, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR-Florida es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

- - -END - -

CONTACT:

CAIR-Florida's Communications Director, Wilfredo A. Ruiz, wRuiz@cair.com, 305.502.6749

CAIR-Florida's Orlando Regional Director, Rasha Mubarak, rMubarak@cair.com, 407.490.9407