Mr. West spoke with our Director of Policy & Administration earlier in the day and expressed his “heartfelt, sincere apology.” Commissioner West went on to state that his “intent was never to offend or harm anyone” and the post was a “mistake.”  Commissioner West has agreed to meet with Muslim constituents to further discuss the ...]]> A day after ACO and the American Muslim Advisory Council alerted the community about the hateful post by a local Tennessee public official, Coffee County Commissioner Barry West releases official apology.

Mr. West spoke with our Director of Policy & Administration earlier in the day and expressed his “heartfelt, sincere apology.” Commissioner West went on to state that his “intent was never to offend or harm anyone” and the post was a “mistake.”  Commissioner West has agreed to meet with Muslim constituents to further discuss the incident. Click here to listen to the public apology.

Though we accept Mr. West’s apology, such rhetoric has no place in Tennessee and should never be repeated. Diversity is a value that all Americans cherish and such speech whether intentional or not is a direct attack on that.

Thank you to everyone who took action. We will continue to ensure that Tennessee remains a welcoming state for all. Please continue to help support our work by joining our mailing list and donate today.

We at the American Center for Outreach express our deepest sympathy to all affected by senseless act of violence in Boston. Our heartfelt prayers go out to all those injured and for their speedy recovery. We condemn in the strongest terms any and all acts of violence. We stand with our fellow Americans and are ready to help during this difficult time.

And It’s A Wrap

The 2013 Tennessee legislative session has finally come to an end and ...]]> We Stand With Boston

We at the American Center for Outreach express our deepest sympathy to all affected by senseless act of violence in Boston. Our heartfelt prayers go out to all those injured and for their speedy recovery. We condemn in the strongest terms any and all acts of violence. We stand with our fellow Americans and are ready to help during this difficult time.

And It’s A Wrap

The 2013 Tennessee legislative session has finally come to an end and it has been quite an exciting for American Center for Outreach (ACO). Throughout ACO’s official second year representing the Muslim voice at the State Capitol and in political matters, we worked to ensure that our sustained presence at the state capitol has continued. The Muslim voice is now playing an integral role in safeguarding the religious freedoms and civil liberties of all Tennesseans. Though we saw a decline in the number of bills that were designed to directly affected our community, proponents of unfavorable policies are becoming more strategic with the legislation they propose. This year we saw a legislative shift away from the more combative bills of the past to those that were more subtly divisive, but no less dangerous. However, as a result of ACO’s continued lobbying presence, lawmakers were persuaded to reconsider many of the costly and harmful pieces of proposed legislation that held no benefit for Tennesseans. Through consistent communication and interaction, together we have sustained and created new relationships between lawmakers and our local community.  Below you will find descriptions of our major legislative successes and challenges this year. Although there were difficulties, together we were successful in defeating many potentially harmful proposals. We were also able to amend those bills that did pass in order to minimize their negative impact. For a list of all the bills ACO focused on this year, please click here.

As the next legislative session fast approaches, and as social issues that affect our communities continue to arise throughout Tennessee, we ask that you please help continue the work of ACO with your financial support. Please click here to find out how you can help build our movement.

Our Legislative Achievements

Nashville Public Television Highlights Muslim Day on the Hill

(Click Here to View Clip)

 Barriers to Partaking in the Civic Process

Due to our collective efforts, HB985 proposed by Rep. Matheny, was stopped from passing the state’s House of Representatives. HB985 sought to prohibit non-U.S. citizens, regardless of immigration status, from serving as volunteer poll watchers in Tennessee elections. ACO and our allies actively opposed HB985 and argued that current law sufficiently regulates the behavior of all those who enter a polling place, as it states that no person, regardless of immigration status, may interrupt or observe a voter as he or she casts a ballot. The official opinion issued by the Attorney General, which also helped to prevent the bill from becoming law, found HB985 to be  ”constitutionally suspect under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.” The unconstitutional nature of HB985 would have undermined our values of civic engagement and participation.

HB0985/SB0549 would have been a step backward for Tennessee. We should be expanding and improving opportunities for all Tennesseans to participate in the civic life of our communities, not discouraging civic engagement and volunteerism. Thank you to everyone who took action and helped to stop this bill. We could not have done it without the help of all those who spoke out.

For more information on the bill please visit our website.

English Only Driver License Examinations

As anticipated, the English-Only Driver License Exams bill (SB900 by Campfield /HB593 by Sparks) was reintroduced yet again this year. Through our continued strong opposition and successful lobbying collaborations with the business community the bill was taken off the legislative agenda. This bill would have required all examinations for driver licenses in Tennessee to be conducted in English only. English-Only policies will only serve to tarnish our state’s welcoming reputation and hinder the integration of New Americans. By supporting integration, we in Tennessee are creating an opportunity for New Americans to give back and be an essential part of the American fabric. By eliminating other language options for the driver’s license test, Tennessee roads would become less safe, immigrants would have a more difficult time integrating and learning English, and Tennessee would appear to the international community as an unwelcoming place to live and invest.

For more information on the bill please visit our website.

Anti-Refugee Resettlement Bill

After weeks of direct lobbying by ACO and our allies, HB1326 by Womick/SB1325 by Ketron failed to pass the House State Government Committee and was sent to a summer study committee. HB1326/SB1325 was an effort to stop refugee resettlement in Tennessee by defunding the Tennessee Office of Refugees (TOR) based on the claim that refugees are a burden on the state. HB1326/SB1325, as introduced, would have required the TOR to reimburse the state for the “cost” of refugees. An amended version of HB1326 which passed the House Government Subcommittee would have required the TOR to submit annual reports without billing them for the “cost” of refugees.

We want to take another moment to thank Rep. Bill Sanderson (R-Kenton) who courageously spoke up in the House State Government Committee to defend refugees and protect Tennessee’s welcoming reputation. Click here to watch the full video (starting at 1:34:00 mark) from the committee meeting.

For Your Entertainment: ”TN lawmakers confuse mop sink for Muslim foot-washing sink”

Once again, during this legislative session, Tennessee became the laughingstock of the nation thanks to the misguided actions of a few of our legislators. Senator Bill Ketron & Representative Judd Matheny, sponsors of the 2011 anti-shariah bill, continued their ill-informed Muslim paranoia, mistaking a mop sink in the State Capitol building for a Muslim foot-washing sink. Click here to read the article.

To help highlight the story, and for some much-needed comic relief, our Director of Policy led a Twitter campaign (#ColbertInviteRemziya) encouraging Stephen Colbert to run the story on his satirical news show. A few nights later, Stephen Colbert did just that on the ever-humorous Colbert Report. We’d like to think ACO did our small part in help making this happen.

Special Thanks to Our Allies

ACO could not have taken on our official legislative session without the support and guidance offered by our amazing allies in the business, civil rights, and faith communities. On behalf of the American Center for Outreach, we would like to thank everyone for their incredible work and support this year. With sustained, positive contact between community leaders and their allies, there is a growing awareness among legislators that unwelcoming bills are bad for our communities, our consciences, and our state’s economic well being. Muslim leaders and their allies have been more visible than ever in explaining to legislators the unintended consequences these bills pose to our collective future. Thank you to everyone who responded to action alerts, contacted legislators, and participated in Muslim Day on the Hill and numerous other mini-advocacy and interfaith dialogue days.

Moving Forward

Though the legislative session has come to an end, this is only the beginning of our work. We know that the anti-Muslim rhetoric and action is going to continue, and we, as a community, must be united and prepared to respond. The Muslim community needs to be visible and at the forefront of all local politics. We must start in our own communities to bring about positive systemic change that is inclusive, welcoming and protects our state’s reputation. Please look out for ways you can stay connected and involved in local political organizing efforts this season. And please continue to be engaged in our work as we continue our efforts to promote voter registration and civic engagement, and begin to prepare for the fast-approaching election season in 2014.

Once again, please consider making a financial contribution to enable us in continuing to make Tennessee a strong, inclusive, and welcoming state.

Speakers will include: Sh. Hassan Laccheb, Imam Rafiq Mahdi, and Sr. Remziya Suleyman

We are also very honored to have been specifically highlighted in the Advocacy and Community Engagement section!

Nashville Next is a community-driven process for creating a countywide plan which will guide Metro Nashville through 2040.

It’s a joint effort of Metro government, many local businesses and service organizations, and – most ...]]> Check out this background report “Partnering for an Equitable and Inclusive Nashville,” that ACO contributed to for NashvilleNext, a community-driven process for creating a countywide plan which will guide Metro Nashville through 2040.

We are also very honored to have been specifically highlighted in the Advocacy and Community Engagement section!

NashvilleNext

What is it?

Nashville Next is a community-driven process for creating a countywide plan which will guide Metro Nashville through 2040.

Who’s in charge?

It’s a joint effort of Metro government, many local businesses and service organizations, and – most importantly – community members.  Together, they form the four pillars which support NashvilleNext: Economy, Equity, Environment, and Efficient Government.

NashvilleNext’s leadership includes a steering committee drawn from business, government, and community service, and a community engagement committee which helps NashvilleNext reach out to many different constituencies.

As introduced, requires the Tennessee office for refugees to compile and report certain refugee resettlement information; requires refugee resettlement agencies to pay the state certain costs incurred by the state from resettlement activities; directs certain funds received to the department of intellectual and developmental disabilities. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9; Title 49 and Title 71.

This bill has been placed on State and Local Government Committee calendar for 4/9/2013 & sent to a summer study committee in the House. (Bill is done for 2013)