Academics & Education

House Republican probes State Department communication with ‘radical pro-Hamas groups’ Rep. Brian Mast seeks info on Biden admin contact with groups that bankrolled anti-Semitic campus protests

(Free Beacon) A House Republican asked the State Department on Wednesday to turn over “all records and correspondence it has had with radical pro-Hamas groups linked to the funding of the anti-Semitic protests that have exploded across college campuses in recent months,” […]

Academics & Education

Muslim organization sues Abbott, colleges for suppressing speech The Council on American-Islamic Relations argues Abbott’s executive order addressing antisemitism is unconstitutional and targets Palestinian activists.

(Dallas Morning News) A Muslim civil rights organization is suing Gov. Greg Abbott and two Texas university systems on behalf of student activists, saying Abbott and the universities violated students’ First Amendment rights. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, argues Abbott’s […]

Government & Politics

Inside Biden’s broken relationship with Muslim and Arab American leaders Even as the president piles new pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza, those who have called most passionately for him to change course say it is too little, too late.

(NY Times) Seven months into Israel’s war in Gaza, Muslim and Arab American leaders say their channels of communication with President Biden’s White House have largely broken down, leaving the administration without a politically valuable chorus of support for his significant shift […]

Government & Politics

Biden campaign refuses invitation to address US Muslim voter advocacy groups Muslim voters say the campaign's refusal to engage 'reveals the disconnect' between Biden and voters, as Muslims hear from third-party candidates

(Middle East Eye) US President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign team refused an invitation to address a symposium regarding the voter engagement of more than one million Muslim Americans in the country, according to a coalition of more than two dozen Muslim civic […]

Academics & Education

CAIR calls on MSNBC to ban ADL boss over ‘Iranian proxies’ remark The Muslim civil rights group says Greenblatt should be barred from the network for likening Palestinian and Jewish student protests to Hezbollah.

(Daily Beast) The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling for MSNBC to ban Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt from its airwaves over recent comments he made about college students protesting against the war in Gaza. During an appearance last Friday on […]

Government & Politics

Muslim Americans who soured on Biden see Israel aid package as further betrayal 'If our votes and the votes of people who support the Palestinian human rights are so important, then Biden should be listening,' one activist said.

(NBC) “Outraged,” “point of no return” and “absolute disaster” are how some Muslim American organizers have described their reactions to an aid package for Israel that is making its way through Congress for President Joe Biden to sign into law. Many Muslim […]

Demonstrations

Iran attack widens rift between activist left and Dem moderates The latest flashpoint in the Israel-Gaza war shows both sides calcifying their stances.

(Politico) Moments after Iran launched an attack on Israel, around 400 pro-Palestinian protesters in Chicago broke out in chants of “Hands off Iran!” The head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, claimed Iran “is responding […]

Government & Politics

Dem Rep. Jahana Hayes stands by letter she wrote praising Hamas-friendly group CAIR Islamic advocacy group's leader said he was 'happy to see' Hamas kill Jews on Oct. 7

(Free Beacon) Connecticut congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D.) is defending a letter she wrote praising the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Islamic advocacy group whose leader said he was “happy to see” Hamas kill Jews on Oct. 7. The group does valuable […]

Holidays

CAIR MN removes Shaun King as event keynote speaker following backlash The decision came seven hours after the activist was announced as the speaker for the fundraiser.

(Star Tribune) Minnesota’s branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Thursday night it will remove activist Shaun King as its keynote speaker for an upcoming Ramadan fundraiser, hours after backlash over the announcement that King was selected. A little before noon, […]

Government & Politics

Confusion over CAIR’s role in planned Biden meeting with Muslim leaders in Chicago The White House claims no one from CAIR was invited, but the group organized a letter claiming otherwise

(Jewish Insider) The White House was snubbed this week by the Muslim community in Chicago after Biden administration officials sought a meeting with Muslim, Arab and Palestinian American leaders. At least, that’s what several Muslim advocacy groups said on Thursday. More than […]

Government & Politics

Arab, Muslim and Palestinian leaders refuse to meet with White House aides in Chicago The protests continue, this time in the Windy City.

(Politico) More than three dozen Arab, Muslim and Palestinian-American leaders blasted a White House effort to meet with community organizations in Chicago over the administration’s position on the Israel-Hamas conflict. In a joint letter addressed to the White House, the groups criticized […]

Holidays

Outrage as Los Angeles synagogue hosting Muslim group covers up hostage posters Conservative synagogue cancels lease to Muslim group after backlash from members, threats of mass departure; speaker at Ramadan event revealed to have supported Hamas' October 7 attack

(Ynet) A central Los Angeles synagogue leased its facility to a Muslim group for the holy month of Ramadan, covering up all posters of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 hanging on its walls. Photos of the covered posters circulated […]

Government & Politics

Summer Lee cancels appearance at CAIR banquet featuring antisemitic speakers Her decision comes after leading Democrats in the state, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, criticized the event

(Jewish Insider) Amid fierce backlash, Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) announced on Tuesday that she had canceled her planned appearance this weekend at a fundraising banquet for a leading Muslim advocacy group featuring several speakers who have espoused antisemitic and homophobic views. “I […]

Government & Politics

McCormick calls on Lee to resign over scheduled appearance at CAIR gala featuring antisemitic speakers Sen. Bob Casey criticized CAIR in a statement, but declined to speak out against Lee’s appearance at the event

(Jewish Insider) Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dave McCormick called on Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) to resign from Congress after she scheduled an appearance at a Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) gala featuring a lineup of antisemitic speakers, including one who praised Hamas’ Oct. […]

Clerics & Preachers

Rep. Summer Lee headlines CAIR fundraising banquet, alongside speakers with antisemitic history One scheduled speaker rejoiced over the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre hours after it occurred

(Jewish Insider) Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) is scheduled to give remarks at a fundraising banquet for a leading Muslim advocacy group on Saturday alongside several speakers who have made antisemitic and homophobic comments. The freshman Squad member, a vocal critic of Israel […]

Government & Politics

Orland Park mayor rejects Gaza cease-fire resolution, suggests those opposing U.S. interests ‘go to another country’ The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Keith Pekau’s comments, calling them ‘ignorant and dangerous.’ Pekau said he valued the ‘respectful views of all my constituents.’

(Chicago Sun-Times) The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations on Tuesday condemned Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s suggestion that those who disagree with America’s interests regarding the Israel-Hamas war can “go to another country.” The southwest suburban mayor made the remarks […]