MPower Change

Campaigns

• Re-instate Christian professor who wore a headscarf to show solidarity with Muslim-Americans

  My entire life, I've stood alongside people of different faith and ethnic backgrounds in the fight for justice, because I know that solidarity is the only way we'll all win. That's why I was appalled to learn about a Christian professor's suspension from Wheaton College for speaking out in support of Muslims. Dr. Larycia Hawkins is a political scientist who has taught at Wheaton College in Illinois since 2007. She wore a headscarf to class to show solidarity with Muslim-American women, who have faced increased hate crimes as Islamophobia has spiked this election season. Shortly thereafter, she was placed on leave. Dr. Hawkins had also posted on Facebook that Christians and Muslims worship the same God, which the college said failed to "faithfully represent the college's evangelical Statement of Faith." The college is entitled to stand by its theology, but Dr. Hawkins' was showing us the best of character. Her action was rooted in a concern for the people around her--even people with different beliefs--and a concern for justice. These aren't principles to be suspended for.

  84,706 of 100,000 Signatures

  Created by Linda Sarsour
• Reject Trump's Muslim Ban

  Donald Trump has signed an executive order blocking refugees from seeking safety and restricting immigration from Muslim countries—a Muslim ban in everything but name. While the Trump administration has backpedaled on his call for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States"—realizing the weakness of his mandate and the unpopularity of his policies—it's clear that these orders are driven by a deep-seated, almost maniacal anti-Muslim hate that has captured Trump and his cabinet. And his call to block Syrian refugees—some of the most vulnerable people in the world—is shockingly morally bankrupt, even for someone like Trump. We reject targeting of anyone based on their religion or where they come from, and call on members of Congress to go on the record and vocally reject Trump's Muslim ban.

  379,424 of 400,000 Signatures

  Created by Linda Sarsour
• #IMarchWithLinda

  Linda Sarsour is an extraordinary leader, a selfless organizer, and a fierce advocate for justice for everyday people. Alt-right fanatics and Trump supporters are using lies and anti-Muslim conspiracy theories to distract from the largest protest of a president in US history—the Women's March, which Linda co-organized. I’ve worked with Linda for years on protecting civil rights and holding police and politicians accountable. I know that right now marching with her means making a long-term commitment to resisting this new administration and the hate that’s come in with it. That’s what signing this pledge is about. Linda’s been targeted by these bigots before—we know she’ll be alright, God-willing. But let’s let her know how many people have her back. We won't let them spread their alternative facts and attack someone based on their religion. We march with, you, Linda—yesterday, today, and tomorrow. #IMarchwithLinda

  23,288 of 25,000 Signatures

  Created by Kayla Santosuosso
• Delete @realDonaldTrump

  Trump just provoked nuclear war against North Korea on Twitter—again—which would kill millions of people. And that's not his only potential violation of the social media platform's terms of service.  A significant number of Trump's tweets have also included language of hate, racial discrimination, fear mongering, and outright lies. Tell Twitter to Delete @realDonaldTrump for misuse.

  58,637 of 75,000 Signatures

  Created by MPower Change
• Elections Supervisor: Don't Strip Democracy from Prominent Florida Mosque

  After receiving calls from individuals who said that they would be “uncomfortable” voting at the Islamic Center of Boca Raton (ICBR), and others who expressed plans to impede voting by calling in bomb threats to the center on Election Day, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher stripped the ICBR of its status as a poll site. Rather than report the threats or stand strong against bigotry, Susan Bucher instead caved to these anti-Muslim groups and individuals and denied the ICBR community the ability to participate in the most basic function of democracy--the casting of ballots. There are about 80 churches and five synagogues assigned as polling stations in Palm Beach County, but the ICBR is the sole house of worship whose status as a poll site has been revoked. Bigotry should not be codified in policy, and no one should be denied the right to participate in our democracy at any level because of their religion. Susan Bucher must immediately reverse her decision and restore the ICBR's status as a poll site.

  11,053 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Linda Sarsour
• Governors: Stop Your Collective Punishment of Refugees in Need

  We are all horrified by the terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut, and other parts of the world, and mourn the loss of innocent lives. But an increasing number of reactionary governors across the U.S. have used these tragedies to announce that they will stop all acceptance of Syrian refugees. We stand against this collective and cruel punishment of refugees. These individuals are escaping the very same terrorism that the world has witnessed in Paris and Beirut. Syrians have been killed by the thousands, millions have been displaced, and their entire livelihoods destroyed by the likes of ISIS and the Assad regime. The United States must be steadfast in its commitment to remain a sanctuary for refugees fleeing political and religious persecution—from all across the world. We demand these governors stop using their hatred and xenophobia to shut out Syrian refugees who are in dire need of normalcy and safety. We call on these governors to refrain from making decisions rooted in misinformation and fear. Let us remember the words etched on the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of a long tradition of welcoming immigrants, "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

  50,705 of 75,000 Signatures

  Created by Linda Sarsour
• Twitter: Stop Enabling Trump's Anti-Muslim Hate Speech

  Donald Trump's bigotry hit a new low, as he retweeted several anti-Muslim videos from the deputy of Britain First, a far-right fascist party in the U.K.--drawing condemnation even from Prime Minister Theresa May. This isn't the first time that he's used the social media platform to spread anti-Muslim rhetoric--and Twitter needs to stop pretending that Trump's hate speech doesn't have consequences. Since Trump took office, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has recorded a nearly doubling of anti-Muslim hate crimes. And in incident after incident, we've heard anti-Muslim slogans or even simply the name "Trump" used as a rallying cry before racist attacks. Enough is enough. Twitter can't continue allowing Trump to use its platform to encourage violence against Muslims. They need to shut down Trump's account and stop enabling his hate speech.

  13,247 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Linda Sarsour
• Let Our Families In

  When the Supreme Court issued its ruling last week, allowing Trump's Muslim Ban to go into effect, it included an exemption for individuals with "bona fide" ties to U.S. persons or entities, such as having family members here. But this morning, the State Department—headed by Trump appointee Rex Tillerson—issued guidelines that redefine family in the narrowest and cruelest way possible, limiting the exceptions to just immediate family members and sons- and daughters-in-law. This means that persons with other ties to the U.S.—grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews—are banned due to the racist and anti-Muslim executive orders. This narrow re-definition of family is unacceptable and is clearly intended to break up Muslim and refugee families. We call on elected officials to demand that the State Department reverse these guidelines immediately and let all of our families in. According to Tillerson's State Department: grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, fiancees, and any other relatives do not fit the definition of family members. Yes, you read that right—the Trump administration doesn't think grandmas and grandpas count as family members, and is banning them from the country based on nothing other than where they come from. The executive orders and these State Department guidelines are clearly built on a foundation of anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-refugee hate. And it's clear that the administration is still bent on implementing as much of its Muslim Ban as it can get away with. It's up to us to stop them from getting away with it. Tell your elected officials to let Tillerson and the State Department know that it's not up to them to tell us what our families look like—and to call on them to reverse their bizarre and inhumane guidelines.

  16,351 of 20,000 Signatures

  Created by Widad Hassan
• Prevent a "Trump TV" Takeover

  If Sinclair Broadcasting Group's plan to buy Tribune Media, Co. is successful, the reach of its racist news coverage will be dramatically increased. This is about protecting freedom of the press and standing against corporate consolidation of our local news outlets. Sinclair has a blatant history of Islamophobia, allowing its newscasters to make racist statements everyday in its uniform "Terrorism Alert Desk," which has notably used Muslims as synonymous with terrorists in its reports. The Terrorism Alert Desk is a Sinclair "must-run" that is produced centrally by the company and airs every single day across Sinclair outlets, whether or not there is something to report on.

  12,756 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Linda Sarsour
• Tell Congress: Don’t Meet with Anti-Muslim Hate Group

  On September 6th and 7th, the anti-Muslim group ACT for America will host its annual conference, bringing right-wing activists from around the country to our nation’s capital to advance an agenda that targets Muslims and harms us all. ACT—a group that calls itself the “NRA of national security”—has once again invited elected leaders in Washington, D.C., and from around the country to speak at the conference and hear from its members. Last year, at least 15 members of Congress spoke at the national security briefing. But this year, unlike in the past, ACT is keeping the names of participating lawmakers secret to avoid scrutiny. What do they have to hide? While claiming to uphold civil liberties, including religious freedom, ACT for America’s leader has said that a “practicing Muslim, who believes in the teachings of the Koran, cannot be a loyal citizen to the United States of America.” ACT is lobbying lawmakers to lead with fear. The group is calling for unwarranted surveillance, inhumane policies on immigration and refugee resettlement, biased law enforcement trainings, and unconstitutional opposition to mosque construction. We must not embrace this blatant anti-Muslim bias nor the policies that spring from it. If elected leaders do not denounce ACT’s dangerous rhetoric, they are not only implicitly endorsing anti-Muslim bigotry, but also a vision for this country that denies fairness and equality to us all. We cannot afford silence. Tell members of Congress and all elected leaders to reject ACT for America’s invitation to anti-Muslim hate.

  138 of 200 Signatures

  Created by Linda Sarsour