The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Texas chapter (CAIR-TX) today welcomed statements from a diverse collection of civil rights groups, elected officials and community organizations rejecting Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s unconstitutional and error-riddled proclamation targeting both CAIR-Texas and the Constitution’s guarantees of free speech and due process.

Those who have expressed their opposition to Governor Abbott’s attack on CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, include other civil rights groups like the ACLU of Texas, political groups like the Texas Democratic Party, 27 Texas State Representatives, and members of Congress. 

Below is a partial list of statements:

“This proclamation raises significant First Amendment and due process concerns. It represents the latest escalation by state officials in a pattern of politically motivated attacks on nonprofit organizations led by, and primarily serving, immigrants and communities of color. We demand transparency and accountability in government actions that impact community-serving nonprofits and remain committed to working toward a freer and fairer Texas for all.” – ACLU TX

“Abbott’s Islamophobic attacks threaten the freedoms of us all…When politicians decide who gets rights based on fear and prejudice, every American’s liberty is at risk.” – Asian Americans Advancing Justice

“Texas leaders are weaponizing their power against our communities — and we’re calling it out. These attacks are political retaliation against Texans who dare to organize, vote, and speak out.”

– Asian Texans for Justice

“This designation is an attack on democracy, especially the Bill of Rights and is utterly unacceptable. We urge all Americans, faith leaders, civil society advocates, and elected officials to defend Muslim Americans’ right to organize and enjoy their first amendment.” – Sign-on Statement initiated by Justice for All. Endorsed by 10 national organizations, 8 coalitions, 60 state and local organizations, 24 businesses, and 2 individuals as of 12:30 Eastern on November 20,, 2025. 

“Rather than addressing the real needs of Texans, Governor Abbott continues to squander time and resources on performative gestures aimed at satisfying his allies within the Islamophobia industry and pro-Israel lobbying groups such as AIPAC.” – American Muslims for Palestine

“This is political theater at its worst: weaponizing fear, pandering to bigotry, and endangering the civil liberties of millions of Americans.” – Muslim American Society

“This is an Islamophobic and inflammatory act of political theatre designed to malign a well-known civil rights organization, which has taken up critical work in defense of our communities for over 30 years.” – Palestine Youth Movement

“This designation is unconstitutional, unsupported by any credible factual basis, and represents bigotry on its face. It stigmatizes an entire community and chills the First Amendment rights of Muslim Texans and all organizations engaged in lawful advocacy.” – Muslim Bar Association of Houston

“If this can be done to CAIR—the organization that defends our civil rights—it can be done to any of us. Who will protect your masjid, your community, and your rights in America?” – Justice for All

“To be clear – CAIR – the Council on American Islamic Relations – is like the NAACP for Muslims. It’s the single most mainstream Muslim organization in America. It’s a civil rights organization that fights against Islamophobia.” – Shaun King

“Islamophobia isn’t just cheap discrimination. It’s also just a distraction that cheap politicians use hoping you won’t dig up who funds them, and who runs them. We’re not scared, and most people aren’t stupid enough to fall for it.” – Omar Sulieman

Public Officials and Parties

“The normalization of anti-Muslim hate speech is vile. This bigot [Abbott] should have no place in elected office.” – Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)

“This is a dangerous, racist, and Islamophobic designation, which is a complete degradation of the First Amendment. While Greg Abbott and the Republicans claim to follow the Constitution, they would trample on someone’s First Amendment rights when they don’t agree with or worship with them.” – Texas Democratic Party

“Texas is strongest when we honor our values of tolerance, pluralism, and respect for all people, and we urge the governor to revoke this decision and reaffirm our state’s commitment to true religious freedom.” – 27 TX State Reps. including Salman Bhojani, Linda Garcia, Jolanda Jones, Lauren Ashley, Ron Reynolds, Chris Turner, Christina Morales, Jessica Gonzalez, Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, Ann Johnson, Suleman Lalani, Donna Howard, Ray Lopez, Armando Walle, Gervin-Hawkins, Vikki Goodwin, Lulu Flores, Josey Garcia, Ana Hernandez, Mihaela Plesea, Terry Meza, Charlene Ward Johnson, Vincent Perez, and Rafael Anchia.

“Allowing the Governor to be the sole arbiter of which American is or is not welcome in our state is incredibly dangerous. This is the emergence of thought crimes, and it should be deeply concerning to every Texan who values Liberty.” – Texas State Rep. Gene Wu

“CAIR—the Council on American-Islamic Relations—has spent decades protecting civil rights, combatting discrimination, and defending Texans from religious hostility. Your proclamation is not about safety. It is about targeting Muslims to score political points.” – TX State Rep. Jolanda Jones

“Governor Abbott’s proclamation smearing CAIR is false, Islamophobic, and dangerous for Muslims across Texas. I stand with our Muslim, Latino, and Asian communities and urge you to call the Governor’s office and reject this politics of fear.” – Texas State Rep. Suleiman Lalani

“I strongly condemn Governor Abbott’s dangerous and Islamophobic action targeting CAIR.
CAIR is a vital civil-rights organization that supports Muslim Texans facing discrimination. This decision promotes Islamophobia and harms our communities. “ – Houston City Council Member Letitia Plummer

“Governor Abbott’s proclamation is a shameful, un-American attack on religious freedom.”

– Harris County Democratic Party

“The Governor’s rhetoric fractures community trust and undermines the safety and cohesion that government is meant to protect. We, as Harris County Commissioners, condemn the Governor’s decision and urge him to reverse it.”

Harris County Commissioners Rodney Ellis, Lesley Briones, and Adrian Garcia 

“Our role as public servants is to keep people safe and bring people together, not single out residents because of their faith or heritage.” – Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee

“Stoking Islamophobia has, for too long, been a ploy for political points. Politicians like Greg Abbott try to stoke the fires of division by othering Minority groups and denying equal rights even to American citizens.”  – Austin City Councilmembers Krista Laine, Mike Seigel, and Zo Qadri

END

CONTACT: 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; Shaimaa Zayan, CAIR-Austin Operations Manager, (512) 785-7105, szayan@cair.com; Mustafaa Carroll, CAIR-DFW Executive Director, (832) 549-1042, mcarroll@cair.com; Sameeha Rizvi, CAIR-Austin Civic Engagement Organizer, srizvi@cair.com