The overarching goal of CAIR Washington’s 2025 Legislative Agenda is to protect our communities.
Priority 1: Fight Anti-Muslim Hate
Policy asks: Support Senate Bill 5106 and House Bill 1434, which would make the first day of Eid al-Fitr and the first day of Eid al-Adha state legal holidays, ensuring that Muslims in Washington can fully observe their faith.
- CAIR Washington’s landmark 2024 Washington Muslim Survey found that 82.5% of respondents had experienced discrimination or bias in the past year, and 69.2% had experienced discriminatory policies at work, school, or other places. These are unacceptably high rates of discrimination.
- Anti-Muslim bias is pervasive in media and culture, which contributes to systemic discrimination and targeted attacks on Muslims in Washington state.
- As a leader in progressive policies, it is imperative that Washington state addresses pervasive anti-Muslim bias and discrimination, especially in schools, workplaces, housing, prisons, and interactions with government agencies.
Priority 2: Ensure Education Equity
Policy asks: Support funding for curriculum development on Islamophobia, specifically: $240k of the general fund in 2026 and 2027. Additionally, for OSPI to withdraw and rewrite “Preventing and Responding to Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Discriminatory Harassment in Schools”.
- Recent guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) weaponized a politicized definition of antisemitism against students and families who support Palestinian freedom.
- This guidance, which remains on the OSPI website, is directly harming students in Washington state by:
- unequivocally targeting Palestinian students and families;
- creating an environment for bullying and harassment without protection by school administration;
- leading to disproportionate discipline; and
- re-affirming to families that they are not valued and that the harms against them are not taken seriously.
Priority 3: Protect Freedom of Speech
Policy asks: Oppose adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism in any Washington state law. Why? The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism has been systematically misused to chill and suppress speech supporting Palestine or criticizing Israel. Even one of the main authors of the definition has spoken out against this misuse of the definition.
- Free speech is under attack in workplaces, schools, and higher education.
- CAIR-WA has received nearly a dozen legal intakes since 10/7/2023 where workers are being disciplined, harassed, or fired simply for supporting Palestinian freedom.
- In schools, students are being disciplined for student reporting on pro-Palestine protests, creating artwork including messages in support of Palestinians, wearing clothing depicting the Palestinian flag, and speaking up when teachers’ lessons include Islamophobic content.
- Numerous educators and others in Washington have been targeted and have had their personal information shared online, simply for sharing a message of solidarity with Palestine.