The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) today said a total of 345 Muslim community members, religious leaders, students, and activists took part virtually in the tenth annual Muslim Day at the Capitol (MDAC).
WATCH: CAIR California Muslim Day at the Capitol Political Education Webinar
Participants attended took 94 meetings with elected officials, advocating for three pieces of legislation in an effort to promote just policies within the state.
“Muslim Day at the Capitol provides an opportunity for our community to connect with California lawmakers and demonstrate its commitment to social justice and advocacy,” said CAIR-Sacramento Valley/Central California Executive Director Basim Elkarra. “The growing success of MDAC illustrates that California Muslims are strengthening their political muscle and helping influence California politics for a more inclusive, tolerant and just state for all.”
MDAC participants advocated for the following legislation:
AB 412 (Reyes) – California Commission on Human Rights
This bill would create the California Commission on Human Rights, an advisory commission which will oversee and report on the status of human rights across California. Where issues or concerns of human rights violations are occurring, the Commission would provide recommendations and solutions to the Legislature and necessary departments to mitigate those human rights abuses.
AB 1368 (Calderon) – Enhanced Services & Programs for Asylees
This bill would prohibit the use of kinetic energy projectiles or chemical agents, such as tear gas and rubber bullets, by any law enforcement agency to disperse at any assembly, protest, or demonstration and solely due to a violation of an imposed curfew, verbal threat, or noncompliance with a law enforcement directive. The bill would also require law enforcement agencies to report whenever they determine to use tear gas and rubber bullets on protestors to ensure it does not violate this law.
AB 48 (Gonzalez) – Kinetic Energy Projectiles
This bill would establish the Enhanced Services & Programs for Asylees (ESPA) program which would provide resettlement services for community members granted political asylum in California. This bill would provide $8 million over the next two years to provide culturally responsive case management services.
CAIR-CA also hosted three political education webinars on Anti-Immigrant Violence and the Politics of Belonging, Anti-Blackness and the Politics of Empire, and the California Commission on Human Rights to address the legislative priorities.