ACTION ALERT: Oppose the Harmful “CAMPUS Act”

by CAIR-OHIO in 2024, June, Recent News, Take Action
Take Action

We need your immediate attention and action regarding House Bill 606 (H.B. 606), also known as the Campus Accountability and Modernization to Protect University Students (CAMPUS) Act. While this bill claims to address bias, harassment, and intimidation at institutions of higher education, it poses significant risks and harms to various communities, including Muslim and Jewish students. Here’s why we must oppose this bill:

Inadequate Protection Against Islamophobia:

    • The bill does not place equal emphasis on addressing Islamophobia, despite the rampant anti-Muslim sentiment on campuses and the existing lack of adequate protections for Muslim students. This unequal focus leaves Muslim students vulnerable to continued harassment and discrimination.

    • The bill’s provisions for partnerships between university police and law enforcement could lead to increased surveillance and profiling of Muslim students, who are already disproportionately targeted under counterterrorism measures. This risks further marginalizing and criminalizing Muslim students.

Harmful Impact on Jewish Students:

    • The bill could inadvertently harm Jewish students by tokenizing them and assuming a monolithic viewpoint on contentious issues like Israel. Jewish students who criticize Israeli policies may be unfairly targeted for antisemitism, stifling free speech and academic discourse.

    • The vagueness of the bill’s language allows for the conflation of antisemitism with anti-Zionism, using Jewish oppression to silence legitimate criticisms of Israel. This not only creates a repressive environment for human rights advocacy but also diminishes the real threats to Jewish safety from white supremacist groups.

Unclear Allocation of Funds:

    • The bill allocates $4 million in funds without clear guidelines, risking the potential use of these funds for violent crackdowns on campus protests. This misuse of resources under the guise of enhancing safety has already made campuses more dangerous, as evidenced by recent arrests of protesters by campus police.

TAKE ACTION: Fill out this form to email your legislators TODAY and urge them to oppose HB 606, and CALL the Finance Committee Chair as they will potentially vote on it Tuesday, June 25!

CALL: 

Finance Committee Chair — Jay Edwards: 614-466-2158 / Rep94@OhioHouse.gov 

Bill sponsor #1 — Rep Justin Pizzulli (R): 614-466-2124 / Rep90@OhioHouse.gov 

Bill sponsor #2 — Rep Dontavius Jarrells (D): 614-466-5343 / Rep01@OhioHouse.gov

ACTION ALERT: Support OSU Student First Amendment Rights

by CAIR-OHIO in 2024, May, Recent News, Take Action
Take Action

On April 25, 2024, a peaceful gathering at the Ohio State University (OSU) turned into a scene of unwarranted brutality. Students, faculty, alumni, and community members convened in solidarity with the Palestinian people, exercising their constitutional rights to free speech and assembly. However, their peaceful assembly was met with excessive force from law enforcement, resulting in numerous arrests and violations of civil liberties.

The incident on April 25th highlights a concerning trend of suppressing dissent and curtailing the fundamental rights of individuals to peacefully protest. We cannot stand idly by as those who seek to exercise their rights are met with violence and intimidation.

We urge you to take immediate action by filling out the form below to contact decision makers and call on them to rectify this injustice by:

1. Dropping all charges against individuals detained during the April 24th and 25th incidents at Ohio State University. These individuals were peacefully exercising their rights and should not face legal repercussions for doing so.

2. Ensuring that student organizers are allowed to peacefully assemble in public spaces at Ohio State University, without fear of retaliation or suppression from law enforcement or university authorities.

3. Join the Columbus City Council’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and advocating for an end to violence against the Palestinian people. It is imperative to work towards a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict, respecting the rights and dignity of all involved.

Click here to take action.

ACTION ALERT: Message Congress on Passing $17B in Military Aid for Israel’s Genocide

by CAIR-OHIO in 2024, April, Recent News, Take Action
Take Action

Join the Council on American-Islamic Relations in letting your member of Congress know how you feel about their vote last weekend on a bill that would send $17 billion in unconditional military aid to the Israeli government.

If your representative voted against the $17 billion for Israel’s genocide, it’s important to thank them. If you representative voted for the funding, it’s important to express your disapproval.

Use CAIR’s click-and-send action alert to send a message to your U.S. Representative.

Although we are extremely disappointed with representatives who voted to send additional funding to aid the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza, a historically large number of representatives opposed the bill. This is a sign of slowly but surely changing perspectives in Congress. 

Regardless of how your member voted, it’s important to let them know how you feel about their decision. 

Click here to take action.

ACTION ALERT: Urge Elected Officials to Address Genocide in Palestine

by CAIR-OHIO in November, Recent News, Take Action

The time for complacency is over. Our brothers and sisters in Palestine are enduring an unrelenting genocide that demands our immediate and unwavering action. CAIR-Ohio has issued an open letter, calling on our elected officials to step up and support a ceasefire weeks ago. Yet, most of our elected representatives remain silent, failing to address this urgent humanitarian crisis or are fueling it.

Click here to take action.

As members of the Ohio Muslim community, it is our moral obligation to stand united against injustice. We cannot idly wait for our elected officials to find their voices; we must compel them to speak out. Our values of justice, compassion, and human rights demand nothing less. 

Our elected officials must be reminded that their duty is to represent our values, and right now, silence is not an option. We must mobilize, raise our collective voice, and make it resound through the halls of power.  

Read CAIR-Ohio’s Open Letter, endorsed by 46 masajid and Muslim organizations in Ohio and counting. Let it serve as a rallying cry for our community to unite, amplify our voices, and ensure that we do everything in our power to bring justice in Palestine. 

ACTION ALERT: Protect the Academic Freedoms of Muslims at Public Universities

by CAIR-OHIO in 2023, December, Recent News, Take Action

We need your urgent action to stop SB83 to protect students & stop the censorship of diversity in state higher education institutions. The so-called “Ohio Education Enhancement Act” enables censorship and threatens the rights of faculty, staff, and students. It targets diversity, equity, and inclusion on public college campuses by prohibiting institutions from conducting any DEI training, holding any public opinion on public policy controversies, boycotting, and providing majors or courses of study on a wide range of topics such as ethnic and controversial ideology that can include religious and society courses.

Click here to take action.

These bills directly impact religious liberty, employee rights and groups, and policies based on race among many other facets of social engagement and innovation in Ohio public schools. It also aims to ban partnerships with China which would mean a significant loss of funding for programs that connect Ohio to the world and make students global citizens.  

If passed, this bill will defund and terminate minority groups, including Muslim student organizations, such as Muslim Students Association, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Somali Student Association, who hold an integral role in advocating for uplifting and educating communities. Make no mistake—SB83 are in no form “enhancing” the experience of students & educators—it is in fact destroying academic freedom and will alter campus life at Ohio’s public colleges and universities. 

SB83 is bad for students, higher education, and Ohio’s future. Send a letter to your legislators urging them to oppose these bills.

ACTION ALERT: Urge Congress to Support Ceasefire on Gaza Now

by CAIR-OHIO in 2023, October, Recent News, Take Action

CAIR-Ohio is urgently calling on all Americans who value peace and justice for all people to reach out to their members of Congress and request the following actions in response to the ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine:

  • In the U.S. House of Representatives: Co-sponsoring and supporting the Ceasefire Now Resolution, championed by Representatives Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib, André Carson, Summer Lee, and Delia C. Ramirez.
  • In the U.S. Senate: Support the introduction of a Senate companion to the Ceasefire Now Resolution.
  • Acknowledge the loss of lives and recognize the humanity on both sides, including Israelis and Palestinians.
  • Demand that the United States reassert its leadership role as a negotiator in pursuit of a lasting peace. This includes addressing the root causes of violence and ending Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and its apartheid policies.

Click here to take action!

The primary goal of the Ceasefire Now Resolution, sponsored by a diverse group of dedicated members of Congress, calls on the Biden Administration to urgently seek a de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine. It also emphasizes the vital need for sending humanitarian aid to Gaza, with the primary goal of saving innocent lives caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict. CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush also participated in the joint-congressional press conference announcing the introduction of the resolution.

Endorsed by CAIR and nearly 50 other organizations, the Ceasefire Now Resolution offers an alternative to a looming bipartisan resolution endorsed by 390 other members of Congress, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks. That resolution essentially provides an open-ended endorsement for Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the loss of thousands of Palestinian civilian lives.  

On Tuesday, October 17, CAIR condemned Israel’s latest war crime in Gaza: the bombing of a hospital that claimed the lives of hundreds of people. CAIR is actively urging the Biden administration to oppose Israel’s “self-declared war crimes” after the Israeli government declared a “siege” on the entire civilian population of Gaza and escalated a mass bombing campaign that has killed thousands, including over 3,000 Palestinians, including more than 1,000 Palestinian children. These actions are a violation of international law and constitute war crimes.

CAIR believes that the world cannot return to a status quo in which Israeli human rights abuses continue to escalate, Palestinian rights diminish, and Palestinian men, women, and children perish without public notice until a war erupts. Our nation must intervene impartially to end this violence before more innocent lives are lost.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (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.

ACTION ALERT: Urge Your Members of Congress to Address Root Cause of Mideast Violence

by CAIR-OHIO in 2023, October, Recent News, Take Action

CAIR-Ohio is urging all Americans who care about peace and justice for all people to reach out to their members of Congress and request they take the following actions in response to the ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine.

TAKE ACTION HERE

The key to achieving enduring peace remains addressing Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestinian lands, apartheid state policies, and the ongoing violations of Palestinian human rights.

“We call on Congress to endorse the appeal for an immediate ceasefire and for the United States to intervene to end this violence before more innocent people die, stop aiding and abetting the occupation, and start applying the values of universal human rights to all victims of oppression, no matter their nationality, religion, or skin color,” said CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi.

Act Now: Register to Vote By Oct. 10

by CAIR-OHIO in 2023, October, Recent News, Take Action

It is vital to register to vote or update your registration by Tuesday, October 10, 2023, to participate in the November 7th General Election! Note: If you register or update your information after the deadline, the change will apply for the next election.

Register to vote online and more here.

Check if you are registered to vote here.

View CAIR-Ohio’s Voter Guide to learn how + ways you can vote, your rights as a voter, and more here.

ACTION ALERT: Protect the Academic Freedoms of Muslims at Public Universities

by CAIR-OHIO in 2023, May, Recent News, Take Action

We need your urgent action to stop SB83 & HB151 to protect students & stop the censorship of diversity in state higher education institutions. The so-called “Ohio Education Enhancement Act” enables censorship and threatens the rights of faculty, staff, and students. It targets diversity, equity, and inclusion on public college campuses by prohibiting institutions from conducting any DEI training, holding any public opinion on public policy controversies, boycotting, and providing majors or courses of study on a wide range of topics such as ethnic and controversial ideology that can include religious and society courses.

These bills directly impact religious liberty, employee rights and groups, and policies based on race among many other facets of social engagement and innovation in Ohio public schools. It also aims to ban partnerships with China which would mean a significant loss of funding for programs that connect Ohio to the world and make students global citizens.

If passed, this bill will defund and terminate minority groups, including Muslim student organizations, such as Muslim Students Association, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Somali Student Association, who hold an integral role in advocating for uplifting and educating communities. Make no mistake—SB83 & HB151 are in no form “enhancing” the experience of students & educators—it is in fact destroying academic freedom and will alter campus life at Ohio’s public colleges and universities.

SB83 & HB151 are bad for students, higher education, and Ohio’s future.

Send a letter to your legislators urging them to oppose these bills. Take action here.

CAIR-Ohio Calls on Ohio Muslims to Make Their Voices Heard at National Muslim Advocacy Day

by CAIR-OHIO in 2023, May, Recent News, Take Action

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/2/23) – CAIR-Ohio joins the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) to invite members of the American Muslim community to register for the 8th annual National Muslim Advocacy Day.  

This year, the National Muslim Advocacy Day will again take place in person on Monday, June 12, and Tuesday, June 13 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.     

USCMO is encouraging participants to register at least one month before the event, and no later than Sunday, June 4.     

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

All representatives for national, state, and local Muslim organizations and communities are encouraged to register for this two-day advocacy event. Muslim delegates and activists will meet with congressional offices to discuss the most pressing issues impacting American Muslims in today’s political climate.       

“As American Muslims, we have a responsibility to engage in the democratic process and advocate for issues that affect our community. National Muslim Advocacy Day provides a crucial opportunity for us to meet with our congressional representatives and ensure that our voices are heard, said CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi. “As we approach this event, we are proud to continue promoting civic engagement and demonstrating that American Muslims are an integral part of our democracy. I look forward to joining my fellow Muslims in Washington, D.C., and advocating for the issues that matter to us.” 

Among the issues being advocated for, USCMO advocacy day delegates will be calling on Congress to reintroduce Congresswomen Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Jan Schakowsky and Senator Corey Booker’s Combating International Islamophobia Act legislation to address the rise in incidents of Islamophobia worldwide.     

For those who would like additional advocacy techniques and a more in-depth rundown on the advocacy day’s focused issues, there will be a series of online training seminars for those registered before the event. USCMO will also provide a day-of-event training at Congress for all participating Muslim community members.     

Last year, more than 300 delegates from 20 states met with more than 200 elected officials and congressional staffers during the seventh annual National Muslim Advocacy Day. Past participants have posted photos and commentary about National Muslim Advocacy Day on social media using the hashtag #MuslimHillDay. 

For more information about the event or how your Muslim organization or community can participate, please contact the USCMO at: advocacy@uscmo.org.      

You can also find more information on the history of the event and view videos from previous years here.