(COLUMBUS, OH – 7/14/2021) – On Thursday, July 14, 2021, the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) joined the Council Residential Districting Commission (CDRC) Meeting for New Americans. The meeting was held at Ohio Family Health at Capital Park at 5:30 p.m. and was also open to Columbus residents through live online participation on social media.
The meeting was part of a robust districting process that will create nine districts in the city of Columbus, which will then coincide with nine elected City Council members. The city began its districting effort at the end of 2020, and it will carry through the end of 2021. The CDRC, made up of five community members, are tasked with submitting three maps by the end of 2021, which will eventually be voted on by the Columbus City Council. Throughout this process, the CDRC has been hosting regular public meetings to hear from community members and leaders about how the lines should be drawn, and issues of concern.
In a statement, CAIR-Ohio Policy Director Tala Dahbour emphasized the importance of the district lines being drawn in a manner that retains the cultural identities of minority, immigrant, and refugee communities in Columbus so that their collective voices are amplified, rather than diluted. Other issues Dahbour raised include under- and over-policing and access to public transportation and affordable housing.
Learn more about the districting process and ongoing meetings here. Watch the press conference here.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR-Ohio has offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. CAIR-Ohio’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
