1st Amendment Center
“Freedom of expression isn’t a privilege. It’s a right, and we’re here to defend it in every classroom, campus, and workplace in America.”
The First Amendment Center is a national, Muslim-led initiative dedicated to defending and advancing the constitutional rights of American Muslims and allied communities. Our work focuses on protecting the freedoms of speech, religion, assembly, and due process through legal advocacy, policy development, and civic engagement.
Serving as both a rapid response and thought leadership hub, the Center confronts the growing wave of First Amendment violations and coordinated efforts to suppress free expression and religious freedom. Through research, strategic engagement with policymakers, and coalition-building, we work to ensure that civil liberties are upheld across college campuses, public schools, workplaces, and public institutions—safeguarding every individual’s right to speak, believe, protest, and participate freely in civic life.
Key initiatives include the University Assessment Project, which evaluates how colleges and universities handle student protests, disciplinary actions, and equity commitments, and the National Violations Watchlist, a tracking system documenting rights violations across the country. The Center has successfully intervened in multiple cases involving student advocacy and continues to lead campaigns holding institutions accountable for upholding constitutional protections.
Our work results in practical tools and resources—including legal briefs, policy memos, educational toolkits, and policy recommendations—to inform both the public and policymakers and to strengthen civic engagement nationwide.
All Charges Dismissed Against Harvard Students Ibrahim Bharmal and Elom Tettey-Tamaklo
After six months of relentless advocacy, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is proud to share a major victory: The Complete Dismissal of All Charges Against Harvard Students Ibrahim Bharmal (Harvard Law School) and Elom Tettey-Tamaklo by The Court (Harvard Divinity School).
As the first organization to step forward and agree to champion their cause, MPAC led a national effort demanding justice for Ibrahim and Elom, who were targeted for their peaceful advocacy at a Palestinian protest. Instead of upholding justice, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office pursued a political prosecution, charging both young men with Assault and Battery and a Hate Crime charges despite overwhelming evidence that they had acted solely as peacekeepers during a lawful demonstration. Ibrahim and Elom were not only prosecuted without cause, they were doxxed, smeared in the press, and subjected to a racist and Islamophobic campaign designed to intimidate them and their communities into silence.
MPAC refused to let this injustice stand. Through strategic advocacy, coalition building a national petition that garnered the support of over 50 organizations and thousands of signatures across the country, and continuous public pressure, we helped secure a critical win not just for these students, but for the broader fight to protect free speech and the right to protest. This dismissal is a testament to the power of collective action and the urgent need to defend civil liberties at every level.
MPAC-led Organizing and Coalition Building Secured LAUSD’s Renewal of UCLA Center X Partnership
UCLA Center X has been a trusted partner of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) since 2013, collaborating with educators, researchers, and historians to enhance K–12 history–social studies instruction, curriculum design, and community engagement. Their work has been instrumental in promoting inclusive, accurate, and community-rooted education for all students.
Denying this grant would have set a dangerous precedent—undermining ethnic studies across LAUSD and influencing other school districts that look to LAUSD as a model for equitable education.
Recent efforts by some organized civil society groups to oppose this renewal risked silencing the voices of marginalized communities and educators who have fought for representation and truth in the classroom.
Thanks to our coalition building, calling campaign, and strong presence at the LAUSD Board meeting, the District heard directly from community members, parents, and educators who believe in equitable, inclusive education. The Board voted to approve the renewal of this program—ensuring that LAUSD upholds its commitment to diversity and justice in education.
MPAC Developed a Campaign to Pressure VCU to Reinstate Degrees of 2 Undergraduate Students
When Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) revoked the degrees of two students, Selma and Sereen, for their participation in peaceful pro-Palestine protests, it marked a troubling escalation in the suppression of student activism and free expression on campus. In response, we launched a coordinated social media campaign to raise awareness and mobilize public support, amplifying their voices and situating their struggle within the broader fight for academic freedom and justice.
Through sustained advocacy, collaboration with other incredible coalitions, direct engagement with university leadership, and continued pressure on administrative offices, we urged VCU to uphold its commitment to equity and free speech. Ultimately, these collective efforts led to the reinstatement of both students’ degrees, reinforcing the power of organized advocacy and principled action in defending students’ rights.
Featured Work
