Assalamu'alaykum John,

Our story began eighteen years ago, after the horrific events of Sept. 11, 2001.

Muslim Legal Fund of America was established by a coalition of civil rights activists seeking to redress systemic discrimination against Arabs, Muslims, and South Asians. While these communities have historically not been immune from discrimination, the tragic terrorist attacks of 9/11 caused a surge in discrimination, hate crimes, and unlawful profiling by both public and private actors.

MLFA aimed to develop effective strategies and pursue constructive solutions to counter discrimination against American Muslims in the legal justice system. MLFA's strategy evolved to focus on proactive engagement of our Muslim organizations, schools, mosques, and charities, while also supporting numerous public interest cases in matters concerning national security law. It spearheaded and funded a strategically focused, specialized law center, the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, in order to retain the best counsel and promote legal compliance to empower and protect our communities from the inside, out.

Since its founding, MLFA continues to fund efforts aimed at restoring the fundamental American principles of fairness and equality for which our Founding Fathers fought so hard to establish. MLFA enjoys the support of thousands of Americans of diverse backgrounds who believe that the ideals of freedom, liberty, and justice for all apply equally to Muslims in America. Watch the video above to learn more about the past, present, and future of MLFA.

To all of our supporters: thank you for helping us fund the work that makes justice, possible. Standing up to injustice today will protect our families and institutions for a brighter future, tomorrow.

In faith and for justice,

Nonprofit Board Summit a Resounding Success

Inspired by their attendance at CLCMA’s inaugural Nonprofit Board Boot Camp held in conjunction with MLFA’s Muslim Nonprofit Leadership Conference (MNLC) last December, Islamic Center of Irving partnered with the Nonprofit Practice Group at CLCMA for the Nonprofit Board & Executive Leadership Legal & Compliance Summit on August 17, 2019 held at ICI. The Conference was attended by over 60 local leaders from Masjids and nonprofit organizations. This day long workshop included presentations given by Shari F. Crittendon of CLCMA and a leading employment attorney out of Washington D.C.

The goal of the CLCMA Conference is to empower like-minded people in the Muslim nonprofit community by connecting them to a peer network who are experiencing the same leadership challenges and triumphs and providing information and tools to support optimal and compliant leadership. This is done by crafting educational panels and experiences that are rich in content and researched with passion.

This valuable day-long workshop brought community leaders together as they learned about employment and volunteer issues, governance, and board roles and responsibilities. There was a special afternoon session specifically for teachers and other employees that focused on employee responsibilities such as mandatory reporter laws, sexual or other harassment, and social media do's and don’ts.

Each participant came away with valuable materials to share with others in their organization that included information on Texas nonprofit law and sample policies and procedures. Those who attended spoke highly about the content and expertise of the presenters and expressed their gratitude for the information and connection to others in the community. Special thanks to ICI for their hospitality and generosity.

Be on the lookout for future CLCMA Nonprofit Practice Group events in cities near you!

Volunteer Program Underway to Build Legal Power for American Muslims

Muslim Legal Fund of America's Executive Director, Khalil Meek, met with MLFA's Seattle team of volunteers this past weekend to collaborate on efforts to Build Legal Power for American Muslims. A special thank you to the volunteers who put in time and effort to make this a successful event!

If you would like to organize a similar event and promote the work that makes justice possible, join MLFA's Volunteer Network today!

CLCMA Congratulates CAIR’s Victory in Challenge to Federal Terror Watchlist

Recently, a federal district court in the Eastern District of Virginia ruled that the government’s "terrorist Watchlist," used by the TSA and disseminated to thousands of other "partners" with whom the government shares it, is unconstitutional.

"We commend the CAIR litigation team for this hard fought victory, and look forward to continuing to fight for our own clients who also bravely challenge actions which deprive them of their own constitutionally protected rights, without furthering the government’s actual interests in national security," remarked Christina Jump, Civil Litigation Department Head at the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America.

"Abiding by the laws of this land and the constitutional rights guaranteed to all strengthens our nation; violating those rights weakens it."

CLCMA expects there will likely be appeals and further clarifications needed for implementation of this decision, and looks forward to helping in the fight to protect the constitutional rights of all in the United States, without any unjustified deprivation.

The Civil Litigation Department at the

Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America

is currently handling 24 active cases across the U.S.:

9 active litigation cases currently pending in Washington, D.C. district court
3 appellate cases pending before the 11th Circuit court of appeals
1 case pending in the Middle District of Florida
1 case pending in the Northern District of Texas (Dallas federal court)
2 cases pending in the Central District of California
3 cases pending in the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago federal court)
1 case pending in the Eastern District of Michigan
1 case pending before the 3rd Circuit court of appeals
1 case pending in the Western District of Pennsylvania
1 case pending in the Southern District of New York
1 case pending in federal court in Seattle, WA