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Jasmin Samy, CR Manager, and Megan Fair, CR Assistant Manager, discussing the issues at hand.
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Meeting with the USDA and Adam Smith's Office
Over the past two years at least 13 halal grocery stores in King County have lost their ability to process food stamps, a USDA funded program. CAIR-WA is collaborating with One America, the Somali Grocery Association and Representative Adam Smith's office to address this issue. CAIR-WA believes this issue is rooted in the USDA misunderstanding the cultural shopping patterns of these stores predominantly Muslim customers. It has been an ongoing problem, first addressed by One America in 2002.
CAIR-WA
participated in a meeting with USDA, Representative Smith, One America and the Somali Grocery Association this past month. CAIR WA's Civil Rights Assistant Manager, Megan Fair, says that; "Adam Smith's Office is taking action to build congressional support for policy change on a national level." Our Civil Rights team will continue to advocate for these stores until this issue is resolved.
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