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The Chicago Activist, Issue #537
CAIR-Chicago's Newsletter
Table of Contents:
- Civil Rights Digest
- In the Press
- Outreach in the Community
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KYR & Essential Resources | Navigating the New Administration from ICE Raids to Protests
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Join Our Team!
Civil Rights Dept. Hiring a Staff Attorney
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CAIR-Chicago is seeking a Staff Attorney to join our Civil Rights Department and help fight against discrimination and hate crimes.
To apply please send a Cover Letter, Writing Samples (limited to 15 pages), and Resume to Legal Director, Heena Musabji at hmusabji@cair.com
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Seeking Civil Rights Law Clerks! | |
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Are you a law student, law graduate, paralegal student, or pre-law college student seeking to gain valuable, hands on experience in Civil Rights law? Apply for an internship or clerkship with our Civil Rights department today!
We are currently accepting applications for the Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 sessions.
If you are interested in applying, send your resume, cover letter, and a legal writing sample to Legal Director, Heena Musabji at hmusabji@cair.com
To find out more about our internship program and how to apply, please visit our Intern Center
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On January 29, 2025, at the popular Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. in Chicago Ridge, IL, CAIR-Chicago Staff Attorney Joe Milburn delivered a Know Your Rights (KYR) workshop during an open mic night including artists, direct aid groups, legal advocates, and Palestinian voices.
Upcoming KYR Workshops:
- Friday, Feb 21st at Masjid al-Rahman in Chicago; 6:00 pm
- Saturday, Feb 22nd at MEC Morton Grove; 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
- Sunday, Feb 23rd at IEC Husaini in Glendale Heights; 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
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Combatting Bullying, Censorship and Defamation Campaigns by “CJA” Against Local Students, Educators, and Public Institutions
The Chicago Jewish Alliance (CJA) is waging a dangerous campaign to silence students, educators, and public institutions through intimidation, misinformation, and censorship. Their tactics—doxxing, online bullying, and false accusations—target Palestinian, Muslim, and allied voices speaking out for justice.
From harassing a 15-year-old student to pressuring libraries and schools, CJA’s attacks threaten civil rights and free speech. Their latest smear against CAIR-Chicago only reaffirms our commitment to defending those they seek to silence. We will not back down.
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CAIR-Chicago Warns of Rising Vigilantism as Afghan Family Targeted Amid Trump’s Mass Deportation Threats, ICE Raids | |
Notes threatening to call ICE and stating "President Donald Trump deportation is coming for you" were left at an Afghan family's home in Skokie, IL. | |
Abdul, our client who was targeted with these threatening notes said: “I am a lawful permanent resident from Afghanistan. Someone in my building left hateful messages at my home, threatening to deport me and my family. My wife and I live here with our four children, and now my kids are scared to live in their own home." | |
Chicago Sun-Times:
Notes threatening deportation left at front door of Afghan family's Skokie home
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Chicago Tribune:
Skokie family gets deportation threats; group says anti-migrant vigilantes may be emboldened
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CAIR-Chicago Responds to Trump’s Plan for Gaza Takeover | |
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CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab is speaking out against the President’s proposal for U.S. control of Gaza, denouncing it on media outlets across the globe.
Watch as his remarks have been broadcast in the UK, Iran, Turkey, Poland, and Korea, amplifying the call for justice and Palestinian self-determination.
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ABC 7 Chicago: Chicago-area experts question US right to make Gaza Strip 'Riviera of the Middle East' | "Whether he's serious or not, this is a silly plan that will not take hold. Nobody in the region believes in this plan. Palestinians will not leave their land. They fought tooth and nail for their land," said Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Chicago). | |
PRESS STATEMENT: CAIR-Chicago Stands with Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez in Defense of Artistic Freedom and Free Speech | |
via South Side Weekly “US–Israel War Machine,” on display at the Cultural Center, has become the target of City Council members’ ire. Credit: Jim Daley | |
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(CHICAGO, IL, 2/5/25) – The Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed its support for Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, who was forcibly removed from a Meeting of the Committee on Special Events, Cultural Affairs and Recreation for standing in defense of free speech and against the censorship of the US-Israel War Machine art exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center.
SEE MORE: Alderman told to leave City Council meeting after he appeared to call colleague a white supremacist
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Pro-Palestinian Campus Free Speech Under Attack—Again?
CAIR-Chicago Condemns Politicized Federal Investigation Targeting Northwestern University
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Northwestern University is back under federal investigation—this time by the Trump administration—over alleged antisemitism, despite President Schill already testifying on this issue last May under the Biden administration. As the federal government investigates universities over their handling of pro-Palestine protests, Ahmed Rehab warns that this could stifle freedom of expression.
"If you're into the criticism of the state of Iran you're not an islamophobe. If you're critiquing and criticizing the state of Israel and its war crimes you're not an antisemite. The attempt to declare this legitimate criticism of a state engaging in genocide as antisemitism is both false, dangerous, and ridiculous."
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FOX 32: Feds open antisemitism investigation at Northwestern University, other schools | |
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In response to the announcement, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab released the following statement:
"This is a politicized action by the administration that has little to do with actual antisemitism, whose definition is being expanded from bigotry against Jews to include legitimate criticism of Israel and its documented crimes against humanity. This is both dangerous to combating actual antisemitism and to American freedoms and an affront to common sense. The interests of a far-right rogue foreign government are placed above all else, which is stunning."
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Taqueria El Asadero at 2213 W. Montrose Ave. on Jan. 28, 2024. Credit: Alex V. Hernandez/Block Club Chicago
SEE MORE: North Center Mexican Restaurant Receives Racist Phone Calls After Trump Inauguration
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(CHICAGO, IL, 1/31/25) – The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) today condemned the reported racist phone calls targeting a Mexican restaurant in North Center, echoing similar harassment seen in 2016 following the inauguration of President Trump.
According to reports, the restaurant received multiple phone calls containing racist slurs and derogatory remarks aimed at the establishment and its staff. These hate incidents not only harm businesses but also instill fear and division within our broader community.
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CAIR-Chicago Joins Push to Restore Advocacy Rights in Illinois | |
On February 5, 2025, we joined CAIR Action Illinois, AMP, JVP, and community leaders stood with Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid and Sen. Mike Porfirio to introduce the Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act. This critical legislation seeks to repeal Illinois’ 2015 anti-boycott law, restoring protections for peaceful advocacy on Palestinian rights. | |
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As we navigate the new Trump administration and see an intensified ICE presence throughout Chicagoland, it’s more important than ever to stay informed and protect yourself—and your fellow community members.
That’s why we’ve launched our Know Your Rights & Essential Resources web portal, a one-stop guide to handling ICE raids, protests, law enforcement encounters, and more. Whether you're an immigrant concerned about deportation or a protester defending your First Amendment rights, this page provides critical legal and community support at your fingertips.
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What’s Inside?
✅ Immigrant Rights Center – Access legal aid for refugee/asylum and immigration cases
✅ Know Your Rights (KYR) Guides – Learn how to deal with ICE at home, work, or in public spaces. Request a KYR Workshop.
✅ Printable KYR Cards & One-Pagers – Available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Arabic, Bangla, Urdu, Farsi, Pashto, Punjabi, Nepali, Hindi, Russian, Tagalog, and more!
✅ Traveler’s Assistance Project – Submit your flight details to get real-time legal support at www.tapus.org
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How to Access
Visit www.cairchicago.org/protectingyourrights or find it at the top announcement bar of our homepage. You can also access it under the "Projects" tab.
Stay Updated
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