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

by Fadila Gitosuputro 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 Fadila Gitosuputro 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 Fadila Gitosuputro 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 Fadila Gitosuputro 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 Fadila Gitosuputro 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.

Action Alert: Protect Muslims Voting Rights!

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, November, Recent News, Take Action

Protect Our Democracy; Push the Senate to Support the Freedom to Vote Act

Our democracy is threatened when voting rights are under attack. The Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), Ohio’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is urging Ohioans to stand up for voting rights.

The Freedom to Vote Act will help remove several hurdles that communities of color and other minority communities face when voting. This bill seeks to eliminate challenges with voting by:

  • Expanding voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration)

  • Voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting)

  • Limiting the removal of voters from voter rolls

  • Restoring voting rights to those with past criminal convictions

  • Establishing Election Day as a federal holiday.


Additionally, the bill addresses election integrity and security, redistricting, and campaign finance. The Freedom to Vote Act will ensure that all citizens will be better represented in our government.

Read the bill as introduced here.

Tell your senators to protect our democracy and vote YES on the Freedom to Vote Act.

Click here to take action.

People’s Redistricting Hearing + Rally

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, October, Recent News, Take Action

Redistricting Action Alert: With no progress made on congressional maps, it’s time to demand action.

Please join CAIR-Ohio and our coalition partners in making our voices heard at the Ohio Statehouse this Wednesday, October 20, 2021 from 2:30-3:30 for a People’s Hearing to demand:

  1. Public hearings with plenty of notice & virtual options.

  2. An official Commission-proposed map that we can respond to.

  3. A fair map that reflects our partisanship, keeps our communities together, and gives Ohio’s communities of color a real pathway to representation.


Click here for more information on Wednesday’s event.

Can’t make it on Wednesday? Virtual hearings will also be held for different state regions throughout next week. Click here for more information.

If you have any questions please contact CAIR-Ohio Policy Director Tala Dahbour at tdahbour@cair.com or (614) 401-2920.

CAIR-Ohio Denounces Ohio Redistricting Commission’s Proposed State Legislative Maps

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, Recent News, September, Take Action

Unconstitutional. Unacceptable. The Ohio Redistricting Commission’s proposed state legislative maps do not reflect Ohio voting preferences (55% republican, 45% democrat) and favor one political party, which goes against constitutional requirements. The maps crack apart communities of color, dividing our neighborhoods and pulling together parts of the state that don’t belong in the same districts.

TAKE ACTION

With less than a week until the constitutional deadline, the commission must allow the public to comment on the maps, but what they consider depends on  us! Public hearings are this coming Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. We need Ohio Muslims to show up and speak up. Even if you can’t make it in person, we’ll help you write and submit testimony.

Contact CAIR-Ohio Policy Director Tala Dahbour at tdahbour@cair.com or 614-401-2920.

Afghanistan Community Alert

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, August, Recent News, Take Action

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) stands in solidarity with the Afghan community and calls on the Biden administration to increase America’s capacity for refugee resettlement and protect those in pursuit of relocation. As the refugee crisis in Afghanistan continues to develop, it is imperative to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of those affected. If you would like to take action to put pressure on Congress and the Biden administration to help the Afghan people, click here.  Read More “Afghanistan Community Alert” →