May 10, 2017
 
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 05/10/17) – On May 1st and May 2nd, the California Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) participated in the third annual U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) National Advocacy Day in Washington D.C. More than 400 delegates from 30 states met with some 230 elected officials and congressional staffers. 

CAIR-CA delegates promoted a legislative agenda in support of equality and social justice, and outlined the domestic priorities of the American Muslim community, including efforts to protect the civil rights of Muslims and immigrants, and eliminating racial and religious discriminatory profiling by law enforcement.

 

Pilgrimage to Manzanar:

 

On April 29th – CAIR- Sacramento held the 12th annual Florin Manzanar Pilgrimage, co-sponsored by the Florin JACL – Sacramento Valley (Florin JACL-SV).

 

In the wake of fear-mongering and bans against Muslims, immigrants, and refugees by politicians, a bus load of 55 Japanese Americans, Muslims, and diverse Sacramentans depart together on a 3-day 350 mile pilgrimage to the former WWII Manzanar concentration camp to learn from the past and counter today’s growing ignorance, fear, and divisiveness. 75 years ago in 1942 the government imprisoned a total of 120,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast.

 

SEE: 12th Annual Manzanar Pilgrimage

 

During recent years xenophobic and demagogic politicians have called for Muslims and refugees to be banned from the U.S., locked up in concentration camps, and spied upon in their mosques. The government took these same measures against innocent Japanese Americans in the 1930s and 1940s.

 

Since 9/11, and even before, the Sacramento Japanese and Muslim American communities have worked closely together for greater understanding of the unfairly scapegoated Muslim, Arab, Sikh, and South Asian American communities.

 

SEE: From Remembrance to Resistance: The 48th Manzanar Pilgrimage |  Capital & Main

 

SEE: Why Remembering Japanese-American Internment Really Matters This Year | Mother Jones

 

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

 

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

 

– END –

 

CONTACT: CAIR California Legislative and Government Affairs Coordinator, Yannina Casillas, 951.259.5105, ycasillas@cair.com