CAIR is calling on all those who value America’s traditions of religious inclusion and respect for diversity to urge the Senate to oppose the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as secretary of state.
CAIR is releasing seven steps people can take to urge their senators and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation.
- CLICK HERE TO SEND CAIR’S ACTION ALERT TO THE U.S. SENATE – CLICK HERE TO READ CAIR’S CONGRESSIONAL FACT SHEET OPPOSING POMPEO’S NOMINATION
“Mr. Pompeo’s expressed Islamophobic views and association with a virulent anti-Muslim hate group should disqualify him from being confirmed as secretary of state,” said CAIR Director of Government Affairs Department Robert McCaw. “Americans must unite together in opposing Pompeo’s confirmation to prevent any harm he may do to our nation’s image and to relations abroad.”
McCaw said CAIR is calling on all Americans to urge members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose Pompeo’s confirmation and to question him about his past anti-Muslim statements, about current associations with anti-Muslim hate groups and about his views on supporting torture, keeping the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo open and framing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as religious wars.
In addition to issuing a click-and-send action alert, CAIR is releasing a congressional fact sheet, titled “U.S. Senate: Oppose and Block the Confirmation of Islamophobe Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State,” for concerned citizens and activists to forward on to their senators and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
Act Now: See Instructions, Resources, Phone Numbers and Call Script Below
Members of the public are being asked to take the following actions to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation as secretary of state:
- Take part in CAIR’s click-and-send action alert to email your state’s U.S. senate delegation and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation. Take action today, click here.
- Read CAIR’s congressional factsheet “U.S. Senate: Oppose and Block the Confirmation of Islamophobe Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State,” which can be found here. Forward this factsheet along to your state’s Senate delegation, and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Organize locally. Connect with neighbors, your house of worship, state or city CAIR chapter, and other non-profits interested in requesting the Senate to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation.
- Call and schedule constituent meetings with your state’s U.S. Senate delegation urging opposition to Pompeo’s confirmation should it come to a vote on the Senate floor. Contact information for members of the U.S. Senate can be found here. Contact information for local CAIR chapters can be found here. A checklist on meeting with an elected official and ensuring an effective meeting with an elected official can be found in CAIR’s policy toolkit: “Recognizing American Muslim Contributions in our States.”
- Call the offices of members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations urging them to oppose and block Pompeo’s confirmation during the hearing that is reported to take place sometime in April. A call script is provided below. Please note: Individuals that live in states that have a senator who serves on the committee can use their influence as a constituent to exert additional pressure.
Contact Information: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (by leadership then state)
- Senator Rob Portman (Republican, Ohio) – Phone: 202-224-3353, Website click here.
- Call Script: Suggested Message to U.S. Senators: “Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I am calling to urge Senator Portman to “OPPOSE” and “VOTE NO” on the confirmation of Mike Pompeo due to his expressed Islamophobic views and association with an anti-Muslim hate groups and his views on supporting torture, keeping the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo open, and framing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as religious wars. Pompeo serving as secretary of state would harm our nation’s image and relations with key players in the international community. Thank you.”
- Write an editorial for your local newspaper and other online state or regional news forums that your state’s senate delegation is likely to read. Use this press release and the points made by CAIR’s congressional factsheet opposing Pompeo’s confirmation. For more helpful suggestions, refer to “13 OP-ED TIPS,” from New York Times writer, Jennifer Finney Boylan.
- Report back to CAIR any progress made in pushing your state’s senate delegation or members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose or block Pompeo’s confirmation. Contact CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert McCaw by email at rmccaw@cair.com, with subject line: “Pompeo Tip.”
If you have difficulty reaching senate offices using these numbers, call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be transferred.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.