(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/21/21) – The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) is announcing the official launch of the 6th annual National Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill – this year scheduled to take place virtually from June 21 – 24.
More than 470 registered Muslim delegates and activists will discuss the pressing issues affecting American Muslims with congressional offices, including:
- Supporting the Senate advancement of the House adopted NO BAN Act, Dream and Promise Act, For the People Act, and George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
- Creating a State Department Islamophobia envoy position.
- Recapturing diversity visas lost due to the Muslim and African Ban.
- Supporting human rights overseas, including urging Congress to hold the Israeli government accountable for war crimes committed against the Palestinian people with U.S.-taxpayer support.
“It is vitally important that American Muslims maintain and even expand their political engagement at a time when critically-important issues are being debated and policy decisions are being made that impact all Americans,” said USCMO Secretary-General Oussama Jammal.
“We are excited to announce the resumption of National Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, in a virtual format that is accessible to nearly every American Muslim across the nation,” said USCMO National Muslim Advocacy Day Steering Committee Chair Robert S. McCaw. “American Muslims are a force for positive change in the halls of Congress and in local and state governments. Our goal is to ensure American Muslims continue to forge stronger relations with their elected representatives and have their voices heard.”
[NOTE: The advocacy day had previously been scheduled to take place the prior week but is being pushed back one week to provide additional time for USCMO to support the human rights of Palestinians.]
Last year’s Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and USCMO prioritizing the safety of the more than 500 delegates who annually travel from 25 states participate in the event.
Because USCMO’s greatest concern remains minimizing the spread of COVID-19, this year’s Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill will take place virtually, with delegates joining pre-scheduled meetings with members of Congress and their staff via video conferencing. A second in-person advocacy day may be scheduled later this fall if conditions permit.
You can also find more information on the history of the event and view videos from previous years at: http://uscmo.org/index.php/portfolio-items/uscmos-annual-national-muslim-advocacy-day-on-capitol-hill-2/
USCMO is the nation’s largest umbrella group for American Muslim organizations. For more information about USCMO, visit www.uscmo.org.
USCMO is a coalition of a number of leading national and local Muslim organizations that seeks to promote effective communication and coordination between all American Muslim organizations and sponsor Muslim civic engagement for the good of the nation.
Founding members of USCMO: American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), The Mosque Cares (Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed).
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