Muslim Advocates July Update

As we approach the midway point of 2024, we are consumed – as you are – with the heartache that this year has brought to our people.  However, we remain inspired by the commitment of the communities we come from and that Muslim Advocates represents in our work, by the fearless student activists nationwide, and by determined partner organizations on the frontlines tirelessly reaching for a more just world.

Added to the domestic crisis stemming from the genocide in Palestine, is now an election season that will once again put Muslim, Black, Arab, and South Asian communities in the crosshairs.  These twin crises will shape the social justice landscape for a generation to come.  The stakes this fall are enormously high for us all. In this context, our legal=advocacy is as important as it has ever been.

We know that progress isn’t linear; there will be setbacks as we work to achieve the power and safety our communities deserve.  That is why your support is so critical and why it’s important to mark the wins we achieve together on the way from resistance to renewal.

Below are updates about our ongoing work. We look forward to every opportunity to stay in community with you and remain committed to keeping you informed and welcoming your engagement in our shared mission.

Standing By Student and Winning

Earlier this spring, Muslim Advocates and our movement partners brought a lawsuit against the CUNY system on behalf of several law students who were denied the longstanding custom of selecting a student speaker to offer remarks at commencement—a platform that last year’s speaker used to decry the occupation of Palestine. This suit had a notable and immediate impact – the ACLU President withdrew as the scheduled commencement speaker in solidarity with these brave students.

Muslim Ban Litigation

In a landmark ruling in May, a federal judge approved an agreement that provides a visa reconsideration process for those impacted by Trump’s Muslim Ban. Previously in February, Muslim Advocates contested the double standard embedded in the US/Israel Visa Waiver Program and in June, we filed a new case to help expose discriminatory prosecutions of Muslim migrants at the southern border.

Federal Advocacy Update

In June, Muslim Advocates and partner organizations met with cabinet officials from the Biden administration, including the Attorney General and Secretary of Education, to address the government’s failure to sufficiently protect our communities amid the post-October 7 crisis. Muslim Advocates will keep working to hold the current Administration accountable for the policies that harm our communities and to push for policy changes that ensure our access to justice and liberty.

Reflecting On Our Work Together

The Muslim Advocates team is proud to share our  Annual Report with you highlighting our work in 2023. We’re grateful to our community for empowering our work.