Happening Today:
Gov. Maura Healey spends her last full day in Ireland honoring the 60th anniversary of President Kennedy's visit to the republic. Healey will be in Ireland with her mother until Friday.
8:30 a.m. | MASSterList brings together the who's who of state politics and policy journalists for a window into how they do their work. | MCLE New England, 10 Winter Pl., Boston
9:30 a.m. | State early education officials announce grant awards for child care centers serving low-income families. | Leo Inc. Child Care Center, 38 Commercial St., Lynn
6 p.m. | Acting Gov. Kim Driscoll gives the keynote address at CHAPA's 56th Annual Dinner. | Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, 415 Summer Street, Boston
A “first of its kind” bill that would stand up a commission on the status of Muslim Americans in Massachusetts is stirring a backlash from right-wing media at a time when hate — from antisemitism and homophobia to islamophobia — is on the rise across the board.
Massachusetts overall saw a 33 percent rise in hate crimes last year, according to the Anti-Defamation League. But somewhat lost in the conversation about increasing white nationalist propaganda and a “wave of bigoted action” against the LGBTQ communities is the “disturbing” spike in anti-Muslim incidents, said Marlborough Sen. Jamie Eldridge.
Islamophobia was mostly on the rise in public schools, where a Council on American-Islamic Relations revealed a 72 percent jump in requests for help from parents and students.
Eldridge said his bill aims to create an 11-person commission to identify issues affecting Muslim communities in Massachusetts and work to increase their ranks in positions of leadership — including in the State House.
“This is the first bill of its focus in the country – no other state legislature has proposed a commission to better support the rights of Muslim Americans,” he said.
The bill has captured the attention of the conservative Middle East Forum, which opposes the bill saying it “favors one religion over others and so presents serious constitutional concerns.”
The outlet recently claimed a “win” saying its Focus on Western Islamism report resulted in a “watered-down” bill stripped of state funding.
Eldridge denied the claim, saying the bill has remained the same since it was filed in January.
The pushback is “disappointing,” Eldridge said — noting similar commissions studying the status of women, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, and African Americans (to name a few) already exist.
“To be clear the purpose of this commission is merely to address Islamophobia,” he said. “To be representative, we need more Muslim Americans to run for office, to be in civic leadership.”
Eldridge is hopeful the bill will pass in an era where Beacon Hill has a heightened focus on equity. It is currently before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.
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The Washington Post | MassLive
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Provincetown Independent | CNN
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