On Tuesday, April 21, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), CAIR-Texas, and the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), in coordination with national Muslim community leaders, will hold a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., alongside Rep. Al Green (D-TX) in support of his resolution condemning the recent anti-Muslim statement by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN).

Organization representatives will call on members of Congress to co-sponsor the measure.

SEE: CAIR Welcomes Rep. Al Green Resolution Condemning Anti-Muslim Post by Rep. Andy Ogles, Urges Congress to Co-Sponsor

WHAT: Capitol Hill Press Conference Supporting Rep. Al Green’s Resolution Condemning Anti-Muslim Post
WHEN: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
TIME: 1 PM ET
LOCATION: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2075

CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR-Texas Civic Engagement Organizer Sameeha Rizvi, 512-893-1371, srizvi@cair.com

LIVESTREAM: https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational

Congressman Al Green (D-TX), sponsor of the resolution, will attend and speak at the press conference. The event comes amid increasing anti-Muslim rhetoric and legislation proposed by members of Congress, as well as a wider rise in Islamophobia and related forms of discrimination across the country.

Spokespeople available for comment:

• Congressman Al Green (D-TX)
• CAIR and USCMO representatives
• Additional speakers to be announced.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

BACKGROUNDER:

Muslim Hill Day has brought nearly 1,000 advocates to Washington, D.C., to engage lawmakers on civil rights, religious freedom, and equity.

The press conference comes amid increasing incidents of anti-Muslim rhetoric and policy proposals targeting Muslim communities, reflecting a broader climate of religious discrimination and the normalization of exclusionary narratives in political spaces.

Rep. Al Green’s resolution affirms that Islamophobia and religious discrimination are incompatible with American values and calls on Congress to uphold the constitutional rights of all Americans.

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CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR-Texas Civic Engagement Organizer Sameeha Rizvi, 512-893-1371,srizvi@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com

The Texas office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Texas) today called on the State Board of Education (SBOE) to reject proposed revisions to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) social studies standards that unfairly target the American Muslim community.

As the SBOE enters final discussions today ahead of a preliminary vote on the first reading of the new curriculum standards, CAIR-Texas is sounding the alarm on a pattern of bias and misinformation that has characterized this process. During Tuesday’s hearing, the board faced hours of testimony regarding proposed changes that tie Islam and Muslim historical figures disproportionately to terrorism while omitting significant contributions of the faith to world history and civilization.

Tuesday’s proceedings were marred by a series of hostile actions from state leadership:

• State Senator Bob Hall testified that the curriculum was an attempt to “Islamify” schools yet failed to provide a single example of “Sharia law” when pressed by board members. 
• SBOE Member Brandon Hall weaponized political rhetoric to interrogate CAIR leadership on baseless terrorism links.
• Member Julie Pickren and others reportedly exited the room during testimony from Muslim constituents, signaling a blatant disregard for the community’s concerns.

The hearing was marked by inflammatory rhetoric from several public witnesses who used the platform to cast aspersions on the faith of millions of Texans. This follows recent national reporting highlighting concerns that the proposed curriculum shifts are being influenced by political ideologies rather than historical accuracy.

SEE: In Texas, a state hearing on social studies becomes a clash of religions

SEE: Revised Social Studies Curriculum Shields Students from Complexity

In a statement, CAIR-Texas Civic Engagement Organizer Sameeha Rizvi said:

“What we witnessed on April 7th was a disturbing display of the very Anti-Muslim hate we are fighting to keep out of our children’s classrooms. As we head into today’s vote, the SBOE must decide if it will prioritize historical integrity or political pandering. Our students across Texas deserve a curriculum grounded in fact, not one that treats their faith as a subset of security studies. We urge the board to vote in favor of accuracy and fairness by rejecting these biased revisions.”

Nicholas Little, Houston Branch NAACP Criminal Justice Chairman, added:

“I have been to Austin advocating on many occasions for many different reasons on the behalf of all communities. This past Tuesday at the State School Board meeting was frustrating, appalling, and may very well be the single thread that unravels our democracy. Attacks on our education system are running rampant and accountability is nowhere to be found. I was even more outraged by the hatred towards our Muslim brothers and sisters whether members of CAIR or just concerned citizens and advocates. Rest assured that injustice and prejudice will not be protected or shielded by people’s choice to be ignorant or misinformed. The fight must continue, and together we will all fight for the entire community!”

CAIR-Texas and a coalition of educators, parents, and community leaders have consistently advocated for the SBOE to:

• Ensure Balanced Representation: Include the cultural, scientific, and social contributions of Muslim civilizations throughout history.
• Remove Biased Frameworks: Eliminate instructional requirements that link religious studies primarily to modern conflict and extremism.
• Uphold Professional Integrity: Prioritize the recommendations of non-partisan subject-matter experts over politically motivated testimonies.

The SBOE is expected to take its first formal vote on the proposed standards today. CAIR-Texas will continue to monitor the proceedings and advocate for a curriculum that reflects the true diversity and history of all Texans. 

In the meantime, CAIR-Texas calls on interfaith leaders and concerned community members to push back against the anti-Muslim hate spreading across the nation by joining our collective call for support.

TAKE ACTION:Interfaith leaders call for support of the Muslim community nation-wide

CAIR-Texas’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

La misión de CAIR-Texas es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

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CONTACT: Sameeha Rizvi, CAIR-Texas Civic Engagement Organizer, 512-893-1371, srizvi@cair.com; Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Texas Austin Operations Manager, 512-785-7105, szayan@cair.com; Nicholas Little, Houston Branch NAACP Criminal Justice Chairman, 832-982-6648, justice@naacphouston.org 

(HOUSTON, TX, 3/25/2026) – The Houston office of the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) today applauded the Houston City Council’s decision to designate March 15 as the ‘International Day to Combat Islamophobia.’

Yesterday, Houston City Council officials announced the proclamation designating the month, which said local Muslim students have been subjected to religious harassment, including “the desecration of the Quran,” which occurred at the University of Houston last year when a man threw the holy Islamic text into a bonfire at a Muslim Students Association gathering. The proclamation defines Islamophobia as a prejudice against the faith group rooted in fear, hatred and ignorance that manifests in “discrimination, exclusion and violence” against not only Muslims, but those who are perceived to be Muslim.

SEE: Houston City Council members raise concerns over Islamophobia, political attacks on Muslims

In a statement, CAIR-Houston Operations Director Imran Ghani said:

“We welcome and applaud this important decision by the city council. The city council’s designation of March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia and recognition of the threat posed by anti-Muslim bigotry come at a crucial time. Muslims nationwide and in Texas in particular are facing levels of hatred and discrimination not seen since the aftermath of September 11. We hope this designation will serve as a message to anti-Muslim bigots that the city of Houston will not tolerate such hatred against its Muslim citizens.”

In a testimony he gave to Mayor Whitmire and members of Houston City Council to pass an ordinance under consideration that would limit Houston Police Department’s cooperation with ICE, Ghani said:

“Islamophobia is rooted in the same ignorance and hatred that foments fear and violence against all minorities. There is no agency that executes state sanctioned xenophobia more than ICE. For that reason, we urge the city of Houston to pass this ordinance.” 

According to CAIR’s most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.  

SEE: 2026 Civil Rights Report: The Right to be Different

Yesterday, CAIR-NY asked for the public’s assistance with information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man who reportedly attacked a woman on a subway platform while making “anti-Islamic” statements.

Last week, CAIR’s Northern Ohio chapter welcomed the arrest of a man who allegedly plotted a mass shooting at an Ohio mosque.

CAIR’s Pittsburgh chapter also welcomed the arrest of an individual accused of making threats against the Islamic Center of Western Pennsylvania (ICWP) and is calling for continued vigilance to protect Muslim communities.

Earlier this month, CAIR’s Arizona chapter welcomed an arrest for a reported attack targeting children at a mosque in north Phoenix.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.       

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.            

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CONTACT: Imran Ghani, Director, CAIR-Texas Houston, ighani@cair.com, 713-922-5270; Aliyan Hashmani, Outreach Coordinator, CAIR-Texas Houston, ahashmani@cair.com, 832-805-6410; John T. Floyd, CAIR National Board Member, CAIR-Texas Houston, 713-254-2016, jfloyd@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com