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Save the Children: Nepal Floods - Over 500 Children Separated From Parents and Hundreds Still Missing
WESTPORT, Connecticut, Sept. 11 -- Save the Children, an organization that says it is giving children a healthy start in life, opportunity to learn and protection from harm, issued the following news release:
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Nepal Floods: Over 500 children separated from parents and hundreds still missing
KATHMANDU (September 9, 2026) - About 540 children in Nepal have been separated from their parents or are unaccompanied two weeks after devastating flash floods, according to an initial assessment, Save the Children said.[1]
As needs for family tracing and reunification grow, a rapid assessment by the
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WESTPORT, Connecticut, Sept. 11 -- Save the Children, an organization that says it is giving children a healthy start in life, opportunity to learn and protection from harm, issued the following news release:
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Nepal Floods: Over 500 children separated from parents and hundreds still missing
KATHMANDU (September 9, 2026) - About 540 children in Nepal have been separated from their parents or are unaccompanied two weeks after devastating flash floods, according to an initial assessment, Save the Children said.[1]
As needs for family tracing and reunification grow, a rapid assessment by theNational Child Rights Council and child protection experts, including Save the Children, found that 1,233 children are living in holding centers as of September 4. Of these, 102 are unaccompanied - meaning they do not have a parent or relative with them - and 439 are separated from their parents and being cared for by relatives.
Based on the preliminary number of children that schools and families have not been able to contact, about 630 children remain missing in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, according to the assessment. More than 1,300 people have died and about 5,000 are missing, according to the government.[2]
Some schools closed by the floods in Nepal are starting to reopen today with children returning to classes in Bidur - but only for children who are enrolled in education in the municipality. Children who have moved into temporary shelters in Bidur from other municipalities after being forced to leave their destroyed or damaged homes are not able to attend classes.
The wall of water that triggered flash floods on August 26 cut off communities in minutes, breaking bridges and destroying roads, and making rescue by helicopter the only way to safety for many people.
Some children were taken to different locations or temporary shelters from their families - many were at school or travelling to classes when the flood waters struck. Others may have lost one or both parents as villages were swept away.
Unaccompanied or separated children have become scattered across the flood-affected areas, with more than 3,600 people living in displacement sites.
Bishal*, 33, was working away from home when the flood tore through his village, destroying his home. With people moving from shelter to shelter, he had to search for days to find his family.
Bishal* said:
"For three days, I did not know where my family was, and that was the hardest moment of my life. The flood took away our home and shop, and my children were scared and quiet afterwards."
Save the Children is providing psychosocial support for children, including for those who are without parents or legal guardians.
In one of the tented child-friendly safe spaces, a group of young children play with a toy kitchen, meticulously placing tiny chairs around a table. Next door, children practice writing English in Save the Children's temporary learning center.
"Children are looking after children," said Jhan Kumari Neupane, a psychosocial counsellor working in the safe spaces. "Young children have no idea that their parents might not return, while older children are trying to be resilient but are experiencing nightmares, anxiety and fear."
Tara Chettry, Country Director, Save the Children in Nepal said:
"Every separated and unaccompanied child is a protection emergency. Family tracing, reunification, and support for family-based care in the aftermath of a disaster on this scale is a huge challenge but a critical priority. It must be done quickly but systematically and safely by local authorities to ensure that children are protected at every step of the process.
"Unaccompanied and separated children living in communal shelters are at risk of violence, exploitation and abuse including trafficking. Save the Children and partners are supporting police at checkpoints to prevent trafficking and the illicit transport of children.
"This is still the emergency phase, and needs are overwhelming. There are simply not enough trained professionals to support the thousands of children who have lost so much."
For children who tragically cannot be reunited with their parents, Save the Children recommends kinship and family-based care, and is supporting authorities to ensure appropriate interim and alternative care arrangements for children who are unaccompanied.
Save the Children is calling for all children to be able to return to education as soon as possible, including those living in temporary shelters and those not able to go back to destroyed or damaged schools.
Save the Children has so far reached more than 6,100 people, including over 2,220 children, with emergency assistance and support.
The humanitarian and child rights organization has set up child-friendly and temporary learning spaces, providing children with a safe place to play and learn. In partnership with the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO), we are expanding the number of counsellors who can support children. We are also continuing to deliver aid as response teams reach more areas with items including household and cooking kits and mosquito nets.
Save the Children has worked in Nepal since 1976. The organization runs programs spanning child protection, child rights governance, education, climate change, gender equality, health and nutrition and child poverty.
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Notes:
[1] The rapid assessment in 30 out of 39 holding centers was led by the National Child Rights Council with support from Save the Children and other child protection partners. Data as of 4 September 2026.
[2] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 7 September https://mofa.gov.np/content/1879/daily-update-07-september-bhote-koshi-flood/
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Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we've been advocating for the rights of children worldwide. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children - every day and in times of crisis - transforming the future we share. Our results, financial statements and charity ratings reaffirm that Save the Children is a charity you can trust. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.
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Original text here: https://www.savethechildren.org/us/about-us/media-and-news/2026-press-releases/nepal-floods-over-500-children-separated-missing
[Category: Sociological]
National Taxpayers Union: $5,000 Dividend Plan Would Fuel Inflation and Increase Debt
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Sept. 11 -- The National Taxpayers Union issued the following news release:
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$5,000 Dividend Plan Would Fuel Inflation and Increase Debt
September 10, 2026
National Taxpayers Union expressed opposition to President Trump's proposed $5,000 dividend payments that would increase the debt by approximately $1.85 trillion (including debt service costs) and add to our economic woes with higher inflation and higher lending rates.
NTU's Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold stated: "Times are tough for many Americans and everyone could use an extra $5,000. Unfortunately,
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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Sept. 11 -- The National Taxpayers Union issued the following news release:
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$5,000 Dividend Plan Would Fuel Inflation and Increase Debt
September 10, 2026
National Taxpayers Union expressed opposition to President Trump's proposed $5,000 dividend payments that would increase the debt by approximately $1.85 trillion (including debt service costs) and add to our economic woes with higher inflation and higher lending rates.
NTU's Executive Vice President Brandon Arnold stated: "Times are tough for many Americans and everyone could use an extra $5,000. Unfortunately,these dividend payments would worsen, not improve our affordability challenges. One of the biggest mistakes made during the pandemic was showering Americans with stimulus payments that poured gasoline on the inflation fire. At a time when bond markets are reeling, gasoline prices are soaring, and our national debt is breaking records, Americans cannot afford more borrowing and another round of out-of-control inflation. These massive subsidy payments would paper over our economic problems and create conditions that would likely lead to the Fed raising interest rates, despite the President's appeal for a rate cut."
"It's extremely encouraging to hear that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and OMB Director Russ Vought are developing a strategy to address our enormous debt problem. We stand ready to assist them with this critical task. But there is no realistic way they can successfully reduce the debt if they intend to simultaneously add $1.85 trillion to the debt via this dividend payment scheme."
"There are better, pro-taxpayer ways to help Americans prosper. Congress and the President should work together to reduce deficits, increase energy abundance, cut tariffs, and scale back regulations--all of which would help create jobs and put more money in the pockets of working Americans."
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Original text here: https://www.ntu.org/publications/detail/5000-dividend-plan-would-fuel-inflation-and-increase-debt
[Category: Political]
Earthjustice: National Science Foundation and White House Sued for Refusing to Release Government Records
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 11 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on Sept. 10, 2026:
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National Science Foundation and White House Sued for Refusing to Release Government Records
Lawsuit calls for more transparency around the decision to dismantle critical research center that supports our nation's public safety, economic prosperity, national defense, and understanding of climate change
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Washington, D.C. -- Today, Union of Concerned Scientists, represented by Earthjustice, and Environmental Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
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SAN FRANCISCO, California, Sept. 11 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on Sept. 10, 2026:
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National Science Foundation and White House Sued for Refusing to Release Government Records
Lawsuit calls for more transparency around the decision to dismantle critical research center that supports our nation's public safety, economic prosperity, national defense, and understanding of climate change
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Washington, D.C. -- Today, Union of Concerned Scientists, represented by Earthjustice, and Environmental Defense Fund filed a lawsuit against the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for withholding information about their plans to dismantle the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
The lawsuit was filed after both the Union of Concerned Scientists and Environmental Defense Fund filed multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests related to the Trump administration's decision to dismantle NCAR and eliminate its climate research functions. To date, Union of Concerned Scientists and Environmental Defense Fund have received no substantive responses.
"For more than six decades, NCAR has provided life-saving weather and climate science that helps protect people and communities from extreme storms while strengthening our economy and national security," says Dr. Carlos Martinez, Senior Climate Scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "Losing NCAR would set back scientific research, with real consequences for people's lives and livelihoods. As a taxpayer-funded public good, NCAR belongs to all of us, and we deserve to know the rationale and deliberations behind any effort to dismantle or restructure it."
NCAR is critical infrastructure designed to integrate observations, modeling, supercomputing, and applied research, and its science is behind some of the biggest advancements in our understanding of the world around us. From aviation safety and weather forecasts to agricultural planning and flood risk assessment, NCAR underpins our nation's public safety, economic prosperity, and national defense.
"The Trump administration is threatening to wreck the most important weather lab in the United States," said Hana Vizcarra, Deputy Managing Attorney at Earthjustice. "They cannot hide their decision making from the American people."
"NCAR's research helps us understand the impacts of climate change and keeps Americans safe and prepared in the face of dangerous storms, fires and floods," said Erin Murphy, Lead Counsel, Clean Air and Energy Markets at Environmental Defense Fund. "The public has the right to know about the Trump administration's secretive, harmful actions to dismantle essential climate science research at NCAR."
Background
The Freedom of Information Act provides the public with the right to request access to records from federal agencies. In response, agencies must disclose the information requested unless it falls under narrow, specific exemptions -- for example, because the information is classified to protect national security, or disclosure is prohibited by another law.
In December 2025, OMB Director Russell Vought announced that the National Science Foundation would break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a federally funded institution that underpins critical science Americans rely on.
OMB and NSF decided to eliminate climate modeling and research functions at NCAR, according to documents made public in a lawsuit brought by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, the consortium of universities that manages NCAR. This action would significantly limit our understanding of how increasingly extreme weather, fueled by climate change, is putting Americans at risk.
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About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
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Original text here: https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/national-science-foundation-and-white-house-sued-for-refusing-to-release-public-records-requests
[Category: Environment]
Demuth plan makes funding private schools a priority at expense of public education
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Sept. 11 [Category: Union] -- Education Minnesota posted the following news release:
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Demuth plan makes funding private schools a priority at expense of public education
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ST. PAUL, Minnesota. Sept. 10, 2026 - The Republican candidate for governor's new education plan prioritizes private and religious schools over the public schools that serve about 90% of Minnesota students, Education Minnesota said Thursday.
"Lisa Demuth is a disappointment to educators, families and students," said Monica Byron, president of Education Minnesota. "Sending our taxpayer money to
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ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Sept. 11 [Category: Union] -- Education Minnesota posted the following news release:
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Demuth plan makes funding private schools a priority at expense of public education
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ST. PAUL, Minnesota. Sept. 10, 2026 - The Republican candidate for governor's new education plan prioritizes private and religious schools over the public schools that serve about 90% of Minnesota students, Education Minnesota said Thursday.
"Lisa Demuth is a disappointment to educators, families and students," said Monica Byron, president of Education Minnesota. "Sending our taxpayer money tounaccountable private schools hurts the vast majority of students who attend public schools in Minnesota. Demuth should stop falling for President Trump's failed schemes and instead do something about soaring educator health care costs, class sizes that are burning out educators, recruiting teachers with better pay and pensions, and protecting paid family leave and unemployment insurance for all school employees."
Demuth's plan includes opting into President Trump's national school voucher plan to send taxpayer money to private and religious schools, expanding the number of the schools eligible for state school safety money, changing regulations for teacher preparation programs, and creating a system of waivers for schools to seek relief from state requirements. Demuth has previously supported allowing schools to deny educators the paid family and medical leave benefits that other employees are entitled to and rolling back unemployment insurance for educators who are paid hourly.
Her school safety plan does not include commonsense gun control policies, which she blocked during the 2026 session of the Minnesota Legislature as the Republican House Speaker.
About Education Minnesota
Education Minnesota is the voice for professional educators and students. Education Minnesota's members include teachers and education support professionals in Minnesota's public school districts, faculty members at Minnesota's community and technical colleges and University of Minnesota campuses in Duluth and Crookston, retired educators and student teachers. Education Minnesota is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.
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Original text here: https://educationminnesota.org/news/press-release/demuth-plan-makes-funding-private-schools-a-priority-at-expense-of-public-education/
CAIR Says Next Congress Must Hold Votes on Ending Arms to Israel After Revelations That Israeli Drone Operators Are Free to Kill Anyone in Gaza
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on Sept. 9, 2026:
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CAIR Says Next Congress Must Hold Votes on Ending Arms to Israel After Revelations That Israeli Drone Operators Are Free to Kill Anyone in Gaza
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said that the next Congress should hold regular votes to end all military aid and arms transfers to the Israeli government following disturbing revelations confirming that Israeli drone operators have been
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on Sept. 9, 2026:
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CAIR Says Next Congress Must Hold Votes on Ending Arms to Israel After Revelations That Israeli Drone Operators Are Free to Kill Anyone in Gaza
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said that the next Congress should hold regular votes to end all military aid and arms transfers to the Israeli government following disturbing revelations confirming that Israeli drone operators have beengiven free rein to target and kill anyone in Gaza.
The Israeli media outlet Haaretz exposed how Israeli forces systematically deploy armed quadcopters and drones to conduct extrajudicial executions and targeted attacks against unarmed civilians--including women, children, aid workers, and journalists--without restraint or accountability.
Israeli soldiers told Haaretz:
"I asked to meet with the commander to upload targets to the computer, and he told me, 'You have two million targets in Gaza.' He meant that the two million people there were the targets."
"I realized that anyone can kill whoever they want, as much as they want, and they will not be held accountable for it." (Translation from Hebrew)
[NOTE: On Sunday, Israel murdered an eight-year-old Palestinian girl only hours after she returned to school for the start of the new academic year.]
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
"The shocking - but entirely expected - revelations that Israeli drone operators operate with total impunity, viewing human lives as mere targets in a video game, represent the absolute disregard for international law and basic humanity. American tax dollars cannot continue to fund these war crimes. If the current Congress will not uphold American law, the next Congress must vote to do so. Congressional leaders, whoever they are next year, should hold regular votes to cut off all military aid and sales to the Israeli government. If the Israeli government is going to consistently slaughter children and other innocent people with American weapons, every member of Congress should consistently go on the record to support or oppose these crimes."
CAIR noted that U.S. laws governing foreign assistance, including the Leahy Law and the Foreign Assistance Act, prohibit weapons transfers to forces committing gross violations of human rights.
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CAIR's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-says-next-congress-must-hold-votes-on-ending-arms-to-israel-after-revelations-that-israeli-drone-operators-are-free-to-kill-anyone-in-gaza/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Reiterates Demand for Release of Dr. Abu Safiya After Amnesty Director Reports Israeli Torture in Custody
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on Sept. 10, 2026:
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CAIR Reiterates Demand for Release of Dr. Abu Safiya After Amnesty Director Reports Israeli Torture in Custody
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today reiterated its urgent call for the immediate and unconditional release of Palestinian pediatrician and Gaza hospital director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya following new reports of torture while in Israeli custody.
The renewed demand comes in response
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on Sept. 10, 2026:
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CAIR Reiterates Demand for Release of Dr. Abu Safiya After Amnesty Director Reports Israeli Torture in Custody
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today reiterated its urgent call for the immediate and unconditional release of Palestinian pediatrician and Gaza hospital director Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya following new reports of torture while in Israeli custody.
The renewed demand comes in responseto reports highlighted by Erika Guevara Rosas, Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy & Campaigns at Amnesty International. Guevara Rosas raised alarm over reports that Dr. Abu Safiya has been subjected to repeated beatings, deliberate sleep deprivation, and threats intended to prevent him from speaking out about his detention conditions.
Dr. Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in North Gaza, was kidnapped during an Israeli military raid on the facility on December 27, 2024. Amnesty International has previously called for his release, as has CAIR.
In a statement, Washington, D.C.-based CAIR said:
"We join in Amnesty International's demand for the immediate and unconditional end to the torture and illegal detention of Dr. Abu Safiya. We also demand that he be granted immediate access to independent medical care, legal representation, and international monitors. Israel's torture and abuse of Palestinian prisoners - that is bragged about by top officials - must end."
SEE: Inside Israel's prisons, where Ben-Gvir's cruelty is policy (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/9/9/inside-israels-prisons-where-ben-gvirs-cruelty-is-policy)
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-reiterates-demand-for-release-of-dr-abu-safiya-after-amnesty-director-reports-israeli-torture-in-custody/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Md. Congratulates Baltimore Organizers, Residents on Defeating Attempt to Remove Palestine Solidarity Mural
WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on Sept. 10, 2026:
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CAIR Md. Congratulates Baltimore Organizers, Residents on Defeating Attempt to Remove Palestine Solidarity Mural
Civil rights group says preservation of Mount Vernon artwork is a victory for Palestinian visibility, artistic freedom and community advocacy
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The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today congratulated Baltimore artists, organizers and community members who successfully mobilized this week to prevent the removal of a Palestine
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on Sept. 10, 2026:
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CAIR Md. Congratulates Baltimore Organizers, Residents on Defeating Attempt to Remove Palestine Solidarity Mural
Civil rights group says preservation of Mount Vernon artwork is a victory for Palestinian visibility, artistic freedom and community advocacy
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The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today congratulated Baltimore artists, organizers and community members who successfully mobilized this week to prevent the removal of a Palestinesolidarity mural in the city's Mount Vernon neighborhood.
SEE: Streeter: The decision to keep a Mount Vernon mural is a victory for art, free speech and peace (https://www.thebanner.com/opinion/column/mount-vernon-mural-chap-BC624DF46ZCP7GNE77M5GW656Q/)
The mural, painted by Baltimore-based street artist Gaia on the side of The Bun Shop at 902 Tyson Street, features the anti-war words of celebrated author and civil rights advocate James Baldwin: "Every bombed village is my hometown."
The mural became the subject of a September 8 public hearing before Baltimore City's Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP) following a reported complaint.
After organizers issued an urgent call to action, Baltimore residents attended the hearing and spoke in defense of the artwork, Palestinian visibility and freedom of expression. Their advocacy successfully defeated the effort to have the mural removed.
In a statement, CAIR Maryland said:
"We congratulate the artists, organizers, Mount Vernon residents and community advocates whose principled and determined engagement ensured that this powerful mural will remain part of Baltimore's cultural landscape.
"At a time when Palestinians and their supporters are confronting relentless efforts to erase their history, suppress their voices and punish expressions of solidarity, preserving this mural carries significance far beyond a single wall. It affirms that Palestinian humanity, memory and identity belong in our shared public spaces.
"Art has always helped communities confront injustice, preserve history and imagine a more humane world. Bureaucratic or preservation processes must never be selectively weaponized to silence lawful political expression simply because its message makes some people uncomfortable.
"This outcome demonstrates what is possible when communities organize, show up and refuse to allow censorship to proceed without challenge. We thank Baltimore Artists Against Apartheid and every resident, artist and advocate who defended this work. Their victory is a victory for artistic freedom, Palestinian visibility and the right of Baltimoreans to speak boldly against genocide, displacement and oppression."
The mural is the first installation in the international 78 Acts of Witness campaign, a collaborative public-art project organized by Art Forces, NoMuNoMu and iWitness Silwan. The campaign commemorates 78 years since the Nakba, during which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes and communities beginning in 1948.
Over a 78-day period, the project seeks to create 78 public cultural interventions connecting Palestinian steadfastness with broader struggles against forced displacement, colonization, surveillance, incarceration, militarization, environmental racism and state violence.
Organizers said the Baltimore mural was painted on a previously painted, non-historic surface and designed with an olive-green background intended to complement its surroundings. Despite those considerations, a stop-work order was reportedly issued as the artwork was being completed, followed by an expedited process that raised concerns about its possible removal.
CAIR said the mural's preservation is especially meaningful in Baltimore, a city with a globally recognized tradition of public art addressing racial justice, inequality, community memory and resistance.
The civil rights organization urged local institutions and public officials to ensure that historic-preservation and permitting rules are administered consistently, transparently and without viewpoint discrimination.
"We hope this decision establishes a clear principle that Palestinian stories cannot be treated as inherently controversial or excluded from public life," added CAIR. "Baltimore is stronger when its artistic spaces reflect the conscience, diversity and lived experiences of its people."
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CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-md-congratulates-baltimore-organizers-residents-on-defeating-attempt-to-remove-palestine-solidarity-mural/
[Category: Sociological]
