Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Utah Governor Thanks the Church for Leadership on Great Salt Lake Conservation
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 28 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Utah Governor Thanks the Church for Leadership on Great Salt Lake Conservation
Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox presented the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a token of gratitude on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, recognizing the Church's recent efforts to help preserve the Great Salt Lake.
"We want to thank you and know how incredibly lucky we are to have you as friends and neighbors," Gov. Cox said during a brief afternoon visit in his
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 28 -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints issued the following news release:
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Utah Governor Thanks the Church for Leadership on Great Salt Lake Conservation
Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox presented the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a token of gratitude on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, recognizing the Church's recent efforts to help preserve the Great Salt Lake.
"We want to thank you and know how incredibly lucky we are to have you as friends and neighbors," Gov. Cox said during a brief afternoon visit in hisoffice at the Utah State Capitol. "Having your leadership has helped us get other people involved who may have been hesitant otherwise. [Your efforts] have made a huge difference, and we're really proud of it. With your help, we have much better outcomes."
Those efforts include significant water donations. Since 2023, the Church has donated many thousands of acre-feet of water shares to the lake. An additional lease of about 6,800 acre-feet of water for the Great Salt Lake will be completed this year.
The Church's water conservation efforts align with recently updated guidance in its "General Handbook" about caring for the earth. The brief section encourages members to care for and respect the earth as part of their stewardship to God.
"Please know that we feel the same way," Presiding Bishop W. Christopher Waddell told the governor. "How fortunate we are as a Church to have you leading us as citizens of this state and to be able to collaborate and work together closely on things that impact all of us."
The Church's water conservation efforts extend to its chapels and Temple Square. The Church has installed some 3,000 smart irrigation controllers at meetinghouses throughout the Intermountain West and has implemented water-wise landscaping on Temple Square and at some chapels in Utah.
Joel Ferry, executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, praised Bishop Waddell for his 2023 speech at the University of Utah on water conservation. The Church leader's remarks came two days after the Church announced its first donation of water shares for the Great Salt Lake.
Ferry echoed Governor Cox's comment that the Church's decision to help the Great Salt Lake has been a strong encouragement for others to get involved.
"That was really a watershed moment," Ferry said. "We need to recognize that we have stewardship over this precious resource. The Church leading out and setting that example does more good. And it makes our job so much easier. It's more ingrained in the culture to help people recognize and say 'Yes, if they can do it, we can do it.'"
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Original text here: https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/utah-governor-thanks-church-great-salt-lake-conservation
[Category: Religion]
The Iran Conflict Is Hitting Europeans Hard
WASHINGTON, March 28 [Category: Energy] -- The Institute for Energy Research posted the following commentary:
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The Iran Conflict Is Hitting Europeans Hard
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Key Takeaways
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Europe was already suffering from high energy prices before the Iran conflict, as climate policies and other factors lifted prices there much higher than those in Asia and the United States.
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Higher rates of renewable energy adoption in Europe have not reduced electricity prices, but have instead led to the offshoring of critical industrial production.
3
With the loss of LNG exports from the Gulf and significant
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WASHINGTON, March 28 [Category: Energy] -- The Institute for Energy Research posted the following commentary:
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The Iran Conflict Is Hitting Europeans Hard
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Key Takeaways
1
Europe was already suffering from high energy prices before the Iran conflict, as climate policies and other factors lifted prices there much higher than those in Asia and the United States.
2
Higher rates of renewable energy adoption in Europe have not reduced electricity prices, but have instead led to the offshoring of critical industrial production.
3
With the loss of LNG exports from the Gulf and significantdamage to Qatar's production facilities from an Iranian attack, Europe will compete with Asian markets for LNG, which will keep prices relatively high even when the Strait of Hormuz reopens.
4
Damage and price increases in exports extend beyond oil and LNG to include fertilizer, minerals, and petrochemicals.
5
The U.S.'s commitment to energy dominance under President Trump has insulated it from the disruptions of higher dependence experienced in other parts of the world and reaffirmed the importance of energy production to national and economic security.
The conflict with Iran is hitting Europeans very hard because energy prices were already higher there than in other regions due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, U.S. tariffs, European tax and climate policies, and bans/moratoria on fracking. Europe's industries have faced years of high energy costs, enabling Chinese competition and leading to plant closures. Fears of deindustrialization were already common before the impacts of the Strait of Hormuz closure began to affect the continent. Germany's economy, Europe's biggest, could face a $46 billion hit over two years if oil stays at $100 a barrel, according to the IW German Economic Institute.
According to Reuters, Germany has some of the highest wholesale power prices worldwide at $132 per megawatt hour, significantly above $48 per megawatt hour in the United States and higher than the EU average of $120 per megawatt hour, according to International Energy Agency data. Germany has phased out its nuclear fleet and turned to renewable energy, which accounted for 55.9% of its electricity generation in 2025, mostly from intermittent wind and solar power. Its Energiewende by 2030 requires 80% of the electricity supply to come from renewable energy sources, rising to 100% by 2035.
Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after various strikes on both sides of the Iran conflict propelled Brent oil prices to almost $120 a barrel, double the price at the start of 2026, before dropping below $100 a barrel due to President Trump's announcement of ongoing talks with Iran. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz resulted in the reduction of about a fifth of global oil consumption that flows through the strait, with most of it headed for Asia.
According to the Wall Street Journal, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in Qatar, the second-biggest supplier of LNG globally after the United States, are expected to be offline for months. That means the world is losing nearly 12 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas supplies, or about one-fifth of global LNG supplies. Qatar will not be able to resume production at prewar levels due to extensive damage to Qatar's Ras Laffan hub. QatarEnergy lost about 17% of its LNG export capacity when it was struck by Iran, and repairs are expected to take up to five years, with the damage affecting LNG supply to markets in Europe and Asia. QatarEnergy expects to lose about $20 billion in annual revenue. According to S&P Global Energy, other global LNG projects could theoretically add 2.3 to 2.8 million tons per month from April through June, which would not be enough to cover the roughly seven million tons Qatar produced per month before the Iran conflict began.
Besides the disruption to oil and gas markets, supplies of fertilizers, sulfur, helium, aluminum, and other critical raw materials have been affected by Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as the region accounts for significant production of all of them. Shipping costs have also surged.
Some Asian suppliers, which rely on oil from the Middle East, had declared force majeure, pushing up the price of their products. As the Journal reports, the supply crunch due to the closure of the strait is expected to lead to shutdowns at refineries and petrochemical complexes in Asia, which in turn will affect the output of products such as plastics. For example, one French company has suppliers in Vietnam and Thailand who have experienced force majeure and cannot ship raw materials, from which the French company gets 40,000 to 50,000 metric tons of polymers a year, Reuters reports.
According to Reuters, the French trade association Polyvia, which represents plastics and composites companies, is raising concerns with the government, saying suppliers are using soaring gas costs to renegotiate contracts and push for higher prices. European governments have less fiscal room than in 2022 to shield industry with massive subsidies. Therefore, if oil heads towards $130 a barrel, there will be a significantly greater risk of default in sectors such as metals and chemicals.
The United States Is in a Different Position
Due to President Trump's energy dominance program and the nation's vast energy resources, the United States is in a different position than Europe. U.S. West Texas Intermediate oil prices are about 10% lower than Brent oil prices, and retail gasoline prices are less than $4 a gallon, on average, as of March 26. The United States is also the world's largest producer of oil and natural gas and a major oil and gas exporter, selling 8.9 trillion cubic feet of LNG in 2025.
Countries are looking for secure supplies and turning to the United States. Asian refiners are sending oil cargoes from the U.S. Gulf Coast to Asia through the Panama Canal due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. oil producers are increasing production wherever possible and where they are not constrained by infrastructure. In the Permian Basin, for example, oil production growth is limited by associated gas production because excess pipeline capacity does not exist to transport it. Oil companies are also wary about adding drilling rigs because it is unclear how long the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed. Its opening will lower oil prices as more supply will be available.
Analysis
U.S. energy abundance is protecting American consumers from the severe price shocks seen in Europe due to the conflict with Iran. European energy prices were high even before the conflict began, largely due to climate regulations and subsidies for renewable energy technologies that crowd out reliable sources. How long prices will remain elevated depends on how long the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed. Once opened, it will take some time for producers to gear up production.
For inquiries, please contact wrampe@ierdc.org.
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Original text here: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/gas-and-oil/the-iran-conflict-is-hitting-europeans-hard/
Progress Michigan: MPSC Gives Consumers Another Rate Hike
LANSING, Michigan, March 28 -- Progress Michigan, an organization that says it holds public officials and government accountable and assist in the promotion of progressive ideas, issued the following news release on March 27, 2026:
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MPSC Gives Consumers Another Rate Hike
This move will only fuel the affordability crisis families are facing
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In response to the news that the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) granted a $276.6 million electric rate hike to Consumers Energy that allows the utility to bilk out an average 6.1 percent increase from their customers, Justin Mendoza, executive
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LANSING, Michigan, March 28 -- Progress Michigan, an organization that says it holds public officials and government accountable and assist in the promotion of progressive ideas, issued the following news release on March 27, 2026:
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MPSC Gives Consumers Another Rate Hike
This move will only fuel the affordability crisis families are facing
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In response to the news that the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) granted a $276.6 million electric rate hike to Consumers Energy that allows the utility to bilk out an average 6.1 percent increase from their customers, Justin Mendoza, executivedirector of Progress Michigan, issued the following statement:
"Yet again, the MPSC is choosing to make corporate utilities wealthier while Michigan families pay the price. These nonstop rate hikes are eating into our pocketbooks while corporate shareholders and CEOs profit off us. If you're a customer of Consumers Energy like me, about 13.9 percent of your electric bill is going toward profits for its investors.
"It doesn't have to be this way. Ratepayers are getting robbed through higher costs of everyday things like our energy bills, while corporate utilities like Consumers don't even make the proper investments to modernize the grid. We need our legislators to pass Senate Bill 768 and a ratepayer bill of rights because the MPSC is acting more like industry mouthpieces than regulators. Our state government should work for everyday people -- not corporate monopolies."
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Original text here: https://progressmichigan.org/2026/03/mpsc-gives-consumers-another-rate-hike/
[Category: Political]
IFPTE's Amy Chin-Lai is Panelist at AFL-CIO Summit on Artificial Intelligence
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news:
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IFPTE's Amy Chin-Lai is Panelist at AFL-CIO Summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Southeastern Area Vice President/IFPTE Local 70 President, Amy Chin-Lai, was one of several panelists at the first-ever AFL-CIO Technology Institute's national policy summit on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on workers. The event, which was held in Washington, DC on Thursday, brought together over 400 people from the labor movement, business and other stakeholder groups to
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WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers issued the following news:
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IFPTE's Amy Chin-Lai is Panelist at AFL-CIO Summit on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Southeastern Area Vice President/IFPTE Local 70 President, Amy Chin-Lai, was one of several panelists at the first-ever AFL-CIO Technology Institute's national policy summit on artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on workers. The event, which was held in Washington, DC on Thursday, brought together over 400 people from the labor movement, business and other stakeholder groups todiscuss foundational principles of AI, including advancing labor's policy, advocacy and collective bargaining strategies to make AI safer and more equitable for workers and their communities.
Chin-Lai, who participated on a panel alongside AFT President, Randi Weingarten and Microsoft business executives, spoke to the key role that Local 70 members are playing in both the development of AI and the important policy debate happening around its implementation. "The people who are doing the work should define how the tool is used," Chin-Lai noted, garnering applause from the audience. "Not all our members are anti-AI," she said, "but all of us are anti-being used as guinea pigs." Chin-Lai listed four key areas that need to be prioritized as AI's use at the workplace is discussed: job protections, transparency and opt-out, affirmative opt-in, and collaborative implementation where workers and their unions have a seat at the table.
Afterwards, President Biggs thanked Chin-Lai for giving a strong and effective voice for workers in the ongoing AI conversation. "We are fortunate to have bold leaders like Amy who have the expertise and the commitment to speak out and ensure that AI technologies do not only benefit the profit-making interests of technology companies and investors, but truly benefit working families." IFPTE Assistant to the Executive Officers, Brian Kildee, also attended the summit.
See the Tech Institute's Issue Brief: Without Robust Guardrails, AI Harms Workers (https://aflciotechinstitute.org/policy/AIHarmIssueBrief).
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Original text here: https://www.ifpte.org/news/ifptes-amy-chin-lai-is-panelist-at-afl-cio-summit-on-artificial-intelligence-ainbsp
[Category: Engineering]
Environmental Defense Fund: Alberta's Regulatory Updates Inadequate to Reach Equivalency With Federal Regulations
NEW YORK, March 28 -- The Environmental Defense Fund posted the following news release on March 27, 2026:
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Alberta's regulatory updates inadequate to reach equivalency with federal regulations
Statement from EDF on changes to Alberta's methane regulations.
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Today, without public notice or comment period, Alberta published changes to Directive 60, the regulations governing methane emissions from the upstream oil and gas sector.
EDF Senior Campaign Manager, Ari Pottens, issued the following statement:
"Alberta's new regulations do not go far enough in terms of matching international
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NEW YORK, March 28 -- The Environmental Defense Fund posted the following news release on March 27, 2026:
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Alberta's regulatory updates inadequate to reach equivalency with federal regulations
Statement from EDF on changes to Alberta's methane regulations.
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Today, without public notice or comment period, Alberta published changes to Directive 60, the regulations governing methane emissions from the upstream oil and gas sector.
EDF Senior Campaign Manager, Ari Pottens, issued the following statement:
"Alberta's new regulations do not go far enough in terms of matching internationalbest practices or matching the federal government's recently finalized rules and would lead to the unnecessary waste of a valuable economic commodity.
It's hard to understand how any third party could credibly evaluate today's changes as being equivalent to the federal government's. We hope that further updates will make the province's regulations match the federal target."
Background: Since the regulations were first announced in 2021, oil and gas operators in Canada have wasted over $2.3 billion CAD of natural gas due to inefficient production methods. Strong federal methane regulations with consistent enforcement across all provinces would lead to this gas being captured and sold, generating tax and royalty revenue to Canadians.
Alberta's new regulations were developed using the oil and gas industry's self-reported data which badly underestimates the total amount of methane emissions. Peer reviewed studies consistently identify underreporting as being problematic.
A recent analysis by EDF shows that if Alberta were to receive a 5-year delay and only need to hit the 2035 reduction target instead of the 2030 reduction target as specified in the finalized regulations, it will make the regulations 36% less effective at mitigating methane emissions and waste up to $530 million of gas.
If Alberta is given a special five-year delay and allowed to use its own data to inform equivalency, the province's rule would be 77% less effective than the federal regulation. Under these conditions, the province would forfeit over 4,200 jobs and waste up to $1.15 billion of natural gas, an amount that could heat up to 332,000 additional homes per year through 2040.
In December, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature Julie Dabrusin told CBC News that the 75% by 2035 target is in addition to the 72% by 2030 target.
EDF analysis from October 2025 determined that implementing the then-proposed regulations would create approximately 34,000 total jobs between 2027 and 2040, due to the equipment and services needed to cut methane emissions, The jobs would be distributed roughly evenly between the energy-producing provinces in the west and the industrial manufacturing provinces in the east.
Strong methane rules enjoy broad public support from Canadians. A November 2025 poll from Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment shows that nearly two-thirds of Canadians (64.5%) want to see action on methane and that almost 80% of NDP/Liberal swing voters are supportive of methane regulation.
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With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org
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Original text here: https://www.edf.org/media/albertas-regulatory-updates-inadequate-reach-equivalency-federal-regulations
[Category: Environment]
CAIR-LA Condemns Unlawful Detention of Iranian Client by ICE, Welcomes Filing of Habeas Petition
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on March 27, 2026:
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CAIR-LA Condemns Unlawful Detention of Iranian Client by ICE, Welcomes Filing of Habeas Petition
The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the unlawful detention of its client, Aliakbar Manaie, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The organization also welcomed the filing of a writ of habeas corpus by its legal partner, the Law Offices of Stacy Tolchin, challenging the detention.
[Note: A
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WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on March 27, 2026:
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CAIR-LA Condemns Unlawful Detention of Iranian Client by ICE, Welcomes Filing of Habeas Petition
The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned the unlawful detention of its client, Aliakbar Manaie, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The organization also welcomed the filing of a writ of habeas corpus by its legal partner, the Law Offices of Stacy Tolchin, challenging the detention.
[Note: Awrit of habeas corpus is a judicial order requiring law enforcement to produce a detainee and justify their continued confinement.]
Originally from Iran, Manaie has been on parole since 2017, a discretionary release from detention that permits individuals to remain in the U.S. under certain conditions without being detained. For nearly a decade, Manaie has attended all hearings for his removal proceedings and met all court deadlines. He has a merits hearing for his immigration claim scheduled for later this year.
Manaie was arrested with no explanation for why his parole status was revoked. His detention now jeopardizes his ability to meaningfully prepare for and participate in his immigration case.
The habeas petition argues that the government violated Manaie's constitutional rights to due process. The Constitution guarantees due process for all people on U.S. soil, regardless of their immigration status, and states that the government cannot deprive a person of their liberty without an explanation.
In a statement, Stacy Tolchin, Esq., said:
"Our client was kidnapped from his home in Los Angeles by immigration authorities without any basis in law. Mr. Manaie was paroled by immigration officials nearly a decade ago and told that his parole would not be canceled unless there was a change in circumstances, which there has not been. During his parole, he has fully cooperated with government authorities without incident and has not violated any terms of his release. By every available measure, he poses no threat to public safety.
"Mr. Manaie has built a life here in California with his family, including his three children who are U.S. citizens; his unexpected and unjust detention has been a devastating blow to him and his loved ones. We will hold the administration accountable in court for violating Mr. Manaie's constitutional rights, and we will not stop until he is home with his family."
In a statement, CAIR-LA Immigrants' Rights Senior Managing Attorney Amina Fields, Esq., said:
"Mr. Manaie's case is not an isolated one. He is one of the countless individuals who have been unjustly targeted by the Trump administration's clear anti-immigrant agenda. Blatant disregard for due process has become the norm, not an anomaly, as officials continue to implement an inhumane 'detain first, justify later' policy that only serves to tear apart families and punish immigrant communities.
"We are working with our community partners and the Law Offices of Stacy Tolchin to pursue immediate legal action challenging Mr. Manaie's unlawful detention and fight for his immediate release."
CAIR-LA recently welcomed the release of two of its clients from immigration detention after a federal court granted the organization's separate petitions for a writ of habeas corpus. Federal judges found that both clients were detained by ICE unlawfully and ordered their release under the protection of the court.
If you or someone you know require immigration legal assistance, contact CAIR-LA's Immigrants' Rights Center at (714) 776-1177 (ext. 1) or click here to submit an intake form.
CAIR-LA is Southern California'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-la-condemns-unlawful-detention-of-iranian-client-by-ice-welcomes-filing-of-habeas-petition/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR-Chicago Stands With Mayor Brandon Johnson in Affirming Equal Protection Against All Hate Crimes
WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on March 27, 2026:
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CAIR-Chicago Stands with Mayor Brandon Johnson in Affirming Equal Protection Against All Hate Crimes
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Chicago office (CAIR-Chicago), today expressed its strong support for Mayor Brandon Johnson's position that all hate crimes must be addressed with equal urgency and seriousness, amid ongoing public debate following the resignation of Chicago Commission on Human Relations Commissioner Nancy Andrade.
Recent reporting has highlighted
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WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on March 27, 2026:
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CAIR-Chicago Stands with Mayor Brandon Johnson in Affirming Equal Protection Against All Hate Crimes
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Chicago office (CAIR-Chicago), today expressed its strong support for Mayor Brandon Johnson's position that all hate crimes must be addressed with equal urgency and seriousness, amid ongoing public debate following the resignation of Chicago Commission on Human Relations Commissioner Nancy Andrade.
Recent reporting has highlightedtensions surrounding a Human Relations Commission report initially focused on antisemitism, which was later broadened to address all forms of hate. Some officials, including Alderwoman Debra Silverstein, have regularly pressed the commission to prioritize confronting anti-Jewish hate crimes, particularly following a reported rise in such incidents.
CAIR-Chicago unequivocally condemns anti-Jewish hatred and stands in solidarity with the Jewish community against hate, discrimination, and violence. At the same time, we echo Mayor Johnson's clear and principled stance that Chicago must reject any framework that treats one form of hate as more urgent than others. As Mayor Johnson stated, "when harm happens to one particular group, it happens to all of us."
"We must not fall into the trap of selective outrage or a hierarchy of victimhood. Justice demands moral clarity, consistency, and courage," CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab.
CAIR-Chicago also draws attention to the growing and deeply concerning rise in cases of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bullying, doxxing, harassment and hate crimes its offices have received--both locally and nationally - particularly at the heels of Israel's genocide in Gaza and the US and Israel's bombing of Iran. The alarming level of anti-Muslim animus being promoted at the moment can no longer be met with muted responses at institutional levels locally and nationally.
Muslim communities in Chicago continue to face:
* Increased incidents of harassment and intimidation in public spaces
* Bullying, doxxing and discrimination targeting Muslim students in schools and places of employment
* Online hate speech translating into real-world threats. Researchers at the Center for the Study of Organized Hate have documented an 11-fold amplification of online anti-Muslim hate in recent weeks. (A recent post by CAIR-Chicago marking the international day to combat Islamophobia received over 5,000 anti-Muslim comments for example).
* Disproportionate targeting of visibly Muslim women, particularly those who wear hijab.
* Anti-Muslim hatemongering by public officials.
These trends mirror national data and reflect a broader climate of fear that cannot be ignored. In CAIR's 2026 National Civil Rights Report, CAIR-Chicago reported 877 complaints in 2025, a 65 percent increase over 2024.
"The uncomfortable truth is that there is a clear double standard in how officials and institutions have responded to antisemitism versus Islamophobia in this country. At the university, stringent measures including freezing of federal funding, blocks on student registration, mandatory trainings and even withholding degrees have been taken place where antisemitism has been alleged, whereas complaints of anti-Muslim bias and erasure have been ignored or downplayed," Rehab said.
SEE: CAIR-Chicago Says Northwestern's Termination of Promised Muslim Cultural & MENA Community Spaces Is Discriminatory and Retaliatory Capitulation to Federal Pressure (https://www.cairchicago.org/blog/cair-chicago-says-northwesterns-termination-of-promised-muslim-cultural-mena-community-spaces-is-discriminatory-and-retaliatory-capitulation-to-federal-pressure)
"At the federal level, the disparity is even more pronounced. Allegations of antisemitism trigger special congressional hearings and investigations that are denied when patterns of anti-Muslim hatred are alleged. Ironically, congress itself now houses a 55 member-strong anti-Muslim caucus whose members have compared Muslims to dogs and declared that 'Muslims don't belong here,' and that 'Muslims are the enemy within' among other things," Rehab added. "The level of hateful rhetoric at this level of government is unmatched but has been met with no official censure whereas congress' only Palestinian-American representative was censured by 234 members of congress after she called for Palestinian freedom throughout the entire Holy Land."
CAIR-Chicago commended Mayor Johnson for resisting political pressure to narrow the scope of the City's response to hate crimes and for affirming that Chicago's civil rights infrastructure must serve all communities equally.
"A community's right to be respected and protected should not be proportional to its political capital and access. A just society does not rank suffering, nor does it politicize it. We cannot allow those who exhibit selective outrage to dictate our public policy here in Chicago or anywhere. We urge all elected officials, including Alderwoman Debra Silverstein, to work collaboratively toward policies that strengthen protections for every community facing hate and discrimination," Rehab said. "Our city's moral clarity will be measured not by whom we prioritize, but by whether we stand for everyone - 'ALL of Chicago' as former commissioner Andrade emphasized in her outgoing statement."
CAIR-Chicago remains committed to working with city leaders, interfaith partners, and community stakeholders to ensure that Chicago leads the nation in advancing a comprehensive, inclusive approach to combating hate in all its forms.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-chicago-stands-with-mayor-brandon-johnson-in-affirming-equal-protection-against-all-hate-crimes/
[Category: Sociological]
