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. 

ACTION ALERT: Urge the Senate to Pass the Combating International Islamophobia Act

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

Join the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in urging your state’s U.S. Senators to co-sponsor and support Senator Cory Booker’s Senate companion bill to Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Jan Schakowsky’s Combating International Islamophobia Act (H.R. 5665).

The Combating International Islamophobia Act would establish a special envoy office at the U.S. State Department to monitor and combat international Islamophobia.     

Already passed in the U.S. House of Representatives – all that is needed to turn this bill into law is for the Senate to consider and vote on this critical act. 

Please contact your state’s U.S. Senators today and make the world a safer place for Muslims facing genocide, violence, and state persecution. Take action here.

Stop HJR1: Protect the Power of the People in Ohio with Citizen-Led Ballot Initiatives

by CAIR Ohio in Recent News, Take Action

We need your urgent action to protect citizen-led ballot initiatives in Ohio. The so-called “Ohio Constitution Protection Amendment” is back as HJR 1, and it threatens to undermine our democratic process by making it harder for citizens to pass initiatives that reflect our values. 

This amendment proposal would increase the passage threshold of new constitutional amendments to 60%, up from a simple majority (50% +1), making it more difficult for citizens to pass laws that benefit their communities. 

Background: 

  • In 2015, it was through this citizen-led ballot initiative process that proposed to reform the heavily gerrymandered redistricting process in Ohio. The proposal aimed to create a bipartisan commission to draw new state maps, and to require that the maps be accurate and fair in representing Ohio communities. 
  • Following this, in 2018, another ballot initiative was proposed and passed with strong support from Ohioans (nearly 75% in favor). The new law, known as Issue 1, created a bipartisan redistricting commission to draw new state and congressional maps.  

As Muslims, it is our responsibility to stand up for justice and ensure that everyone has the right to participate in our democracy. This is especially important given the challenges and discrimination that our community and other marginalized groups face. 

This amendment is a political power grab by corrupt politicians and special interests who want to take away our power to make decisions that affect our lives. If passed, a small number of voters could block initiatives that the majority of Ohio voters support. This could prevent initiatives such as those supporting fair district maps from being approved, effectively silencing our voices and denying us fair representation. It is important to note that fair maps are crucial to ensuring that every vote counts and that our communities are represented in government.  

Additionally, this would be disastrous for our communities, as initiatives such as those supporting affordable housing, healthcare access, police reform, and environmental protections could be blocked by a minority of voters. 

Let’s stand together to safeguard our right to vote and protect the initiatives that reflect our values and make our communities stronger. Send a letter to your legislators urging them to not support this resolution. Take action here.

ACTION ALERT: Tell Ohio Representatives to Protect Citizen-Initiated Ballots

by CAIR-OHIO in Recent News, Take Action

Our Democracy is under attack. Secretary of State Frank LaRose and State Rep. Brian Stewart recently announced an effort to change the Ohio Constitution to make it nearly impossible for Ohio citizens to pass ballot initiatives to amend the state constitution. Under House Joint Resolution 6 (HJR6), if citizens spend months collecting signatures to put an amendment on Ohio’s ballot, their initiative would need an outrageous 60% of votes to become law. But if Ohio’s supermajority puts an amendment on the ballot, they would only need a simple majority of votes (50% plus one). Take action here.

Proposals like HJR6 affect a wide range of issues, including redistricting reform. This impacts not only voting rights, but healthcare access, access to education, civil and economic justice, and much more. All of which apply to every Muslim and every Ohioan. This proposal would create an unfair, unpopular, and undemocratic process to bring issues that Ohioans care about to the ballot.

Stop this attack on direct democracy in its tracks. Make our Ohio Representatives respect your right to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives and to think twice before pushing ahead. DO NOT LET HJR 6 pass, send your message here.

Join CAIR-Ohio for the 4th Annual Muslim Advocacy Day

by CAIR-OHIO in 2022, August, Recent News, Take Action

Join CAIR-Ohio for the 4th Annual Muslim Advocacy Day in Columbus at the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday, September 27, 2022! Participants will receive training, education, and meet with their elected representatives to discuss issues affecting all Ohioans.

Registration fee includes lunch, training, and materials.

To register a school, masjid, or youth group please email Outreach Coordinator Victoria Hickcox at vhickcox@cair.com.

Action Alert: Call on Ohio Senate to Rescind Endorsement of Islamophobic Film

by CAIR-OHIO in 2022, May, Recent News, Take Action

On April 6, 2022, the Ohio Senate issued a citation in praise of the film “The Kashmir Files.” While the citation commends the film’s “universal appeal that speaks to a matter of great historical importance,” the reality is that the film presents a dangerous and bigoted depiction of Muslims in the context of the conflict in Kashmir, which ignores the nuanced realities on the ground. 

This disinformation has had legitimate implications on the daily experiences of Islamophobia and discrimination for our Ohio Muslim community. It is the Ohio Senate’s job to represent all Ohioans and consider all Ohioans’ safety and well-being. This citation does the opposite and endorses Islamophobic narratives.   

View the official citation here. 

Join CAIR-Ohio in calling on Ohio state senators to rescind the citation and invite them to engage in more diverse education that does not weaponize false stereotypes of Muslims.

Send your message here.

Oppose HB 327, Ensure Safe Learning Spaces for Muslim & Minority Students

by CAIR-OHIO in 2022, March, Recent News, Take Action

ACTION ALERT: Join us in fighting for safe learning spaces for Muslim students and all marginalized communities. Legislators could soon consider this bill that censors honest education, intimidates teachers, and labels concepts around diversity as “divisive.”

Muslim students already face various forms of discrimination and this bill will further limit the ability of Muslim students, and all students of color, to receive an education that is grounded in facts and respectful of their experiences.

Tell legislators – the experiences of different races, genders, cultures, ethnicities, and religions are not divisive. SAY NO to HB 327: https://bit.ly/NO-HB327

Healthcare Advocacy Training

by CAIR-OHIO in 2022, Event, February, Take Action

Are you frustrated that legislators and others in power are disconnected from your work? Take action and create change with healthcare advocacy.

Poligon Education Fund is partnering with CAIR-Ohio’s Muslim Healthcare Professionals Advocacy Network (MPAN) to bring you the advocacy tools you need to engage with your elected officials and support policies that improve healthcare for all Americans. ?

Register at tinyurl.com/healthcareadvocacy22

For questions, contact CAIR-Ohio Outreach & Government Affairs Director Whitney Siddiqi: wsiddiqi@cair.com | 513-904-6788.