The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with more than 20 members of the California MENA Civil Rights Coalition, sent a joint letter to the California Assembly Appropriations Committee in response to its decision to hold the California Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Inclusion Act (AB 2763) in suspension.
The Assembly Appropriations Committee voted on May 16 to hold AB 2763, authored by Assemblymembers Bill Essayli and Laura Friedman, in suspension due to budgetary concerns. This decision prevents the bill from moving forward through the legislative process, and the only way it can now proceed is with an urgent push from the Assembly Committee.
AB 2763 would require all California entities that collect demographic data concerning ethnic, racial, or ancestral background to include a MENA category. Currently, the State of California refers to the recommended standards provided by the Office of Management and Budget in the Federal Government, which places individuals who identify as MENA within the “White” category.
The bill was co-sponsored by CAIR-CA, the Arab American Civic Council (AACC), and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).
According to 2020 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, around 740,000 individuals in California identify as having MENA heritage, making it the largest MENA population in the U.S. The absence of a MENA category in California perpetuates the systemic erasure of the varied ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds of individuals with roots in the MENA region and raises serious concerns including underrepresentation, inadequate resource allocation, and severe quality of life oversight in education, employment, housing, healthcare, and civil rights. It also prevents state agencies and legislature from making informed decisions about how and where to deploy resources for MENA populations.
In a statement, AACC Policy and Research Coordinator Amin Nash said:
“The MENA community has been instrumental in building California into what it is today and has significantly contributed to its economy and growth, but despite this, we continue to endure historical and ongoing discrimination, marginalization, and systemic erasure. The Assembly’s decision to suspend the MENA Inclusion Act continues to perpetuate that erasure and renders our community invisible, unheard, and lacking official recognition.
“We remain committed to ensuring that the MENA community is not only recognized but valued and represented by policymakers. Passing AB 2763 is a crucial step in ensuring an equitable future for all, and we call on MENA Californians to join us in urging our local governments to adopt policies recognizing the unique experiences, lives, and voices of the MENA population.”
In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Policy Coordinator Musa Tariq said:
“The lack of recognition and accurate data continues to marginalize MENA individuals, denying them the resources and representation they deserve. We must push forward and advocate for policies that acknowledge and address the unique challenges faced by the MENA community. Our fight for equity and justice is far from over, and we call on our allies to stand with us in this vital cause.”
The California MENA Civil Rights Coalition, which represents MENA-founded and MENA-serving organizations across the state, sent a joint letter to the Assembly Committee expressing their disappointment with the decision to suspend AB 2763 and advocating for the importance of MENA inclusion in California. The letter also thanked the bill’s authors and committee supporters for their commitment to recognizing the contributions and needs of the MENA community.
SEE: CA MENA Civil Rights Coalition Letter
Organizations that signed the letter include:
- CAIR-CA
- AACC
- ADC
- Arab Cultural and Community Center
- Majdal Center, San Diego
- Armenian-American Action Network
- MPower Change
- Access California Services
- Muslim Public Affairs Council
