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MPAC® Home of American Muslim Advocacy
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House Passes H.R. 4795, Weaponizing Federal Funding to Coerce Universities to End Boycotts
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The Muslim Public Affairs Council condemns the U.S. House's passage of H.R. 4795, the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, by a vote of 237–169, and calls on the Senate to reject it. The bill would condition access to federal student aid on whether colleges and universities refrain from certain commercial boycotts of Israel, using federal education funding to pressure institutions into taking a particular political position.
Despite its name, H.R. 4795 does not protect academic freedom. It sets a dangerous precedent by allowing Congress to leverage federal education funding to compel political conformity. Federal funding should support students, research, and educational opportunity, not serve as a tool for political coercion.
MPAC previously launched a call to action urging the House to reject H.R. 4795 and issued a statement warning against advancing similar legislation in the Senate. Following the House vote, MPAC will continue this advocacy by mobilizing our community to urge Senators to reject any companion legislation or effort to advance the bill's provisions. Read the Statement Here.
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MPAC's Galas Are Coming to Chicago, L.A. & Washington, D.C.
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We're excited to bring MPAC's Empowering Voices Gala to Chicago and Los Angeles, before returning home to Washington, D.C. this upcoming Fall. Early bird pricing ends soon!
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Mark your calendars for an unforgettable series of evenings:
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⟶ Chicago, September 26th, 2026. Purchase tickets here.
Featuring: Award-winning journalist and media personality, Mehdi Hasan.
⟶ Los Angeles, October 10th, 2026. Purchase tickets here.
Featuring: Media host & political commentator Ana Kasparian, and award-winning director & writer Cherien Dabis.
⟶ Washington, D.C., November 9th, 2026. Purchase tickets here.
Featuring: U.S. Representative & Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Pramila Jayapal.
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NEW PODCAST EPISODE: Salam Al-Marayati sits with Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA).
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How do minority communities protect democracy when extremist rhetoric moves from the fringes into the political mainstream? On this episode of the MPAC® Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA).
Together, they dive candidly into difficult conversations: the normalization of anti-Muslim tropes during election cycles, controversial rhetoric at recent domestic summits, resisting the "litmus test" culture designed to fracture alliances, and the necessity of building resilient, pro-democracy coalitions across communities.
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The Muslim House® Heads to the Toronto International Film Festival
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Senior Vice President, Sue Obeidi will be heading to Toronto for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). This is the first activation of The Muslim House® produced by the MPAC® Hollywood Bureau abroad. We are excited to announce that we will have two days of programming on September 13th and 15th. We will kick off the day on September 13th at Luma Restaurant inside TIFF Lightbox with breakfast at 9:00 am ET, followed by panels and a fireside chat. To see the full lineup of speakers and events please go HERE. The event on September 13th is free to attend but is only on a first come first served basis. Credentials are required for the events on September 15th.
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August Brings Record Surge in Anti-Muslim Threats Ahead of Key Elections
MPAC's Center for Security, Technology, and Policy (CSTP) has recorded an alarming spike in anti-Muslim threats, violent incidents, and online harassment across the Western world, fueled by far-right networks weaponizing Islamophobia to stoke fear. Coming right as crucial election cycles heat up, this targeted surge in hostility is no coincidence—it directly reflects the growing visibility of American Muslim candidates stepping into the public square.
Some of the notable events include:
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8.11.26—The same day of Jake Lang's appearance in Dearborn, none other than the KKK dropped thousands of flyers in Dearborn, Michigan.
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8.24.26—Civil rights org CAIR Michigan office received 3 death threats shortly after Jake Lang's appearance in Dearborn, Michigan.
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8.27.26—Police launched a suspected arson investigation after two vehicles—including one belonging to Liberal MP Salma Zahid—were set on fire outside her Toronto home.
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8.24.26—The same day of Jake Lang's appearance in Dearborn, none other than the KKK dropped thousands of flyers in Dearborn, Michigan.
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