Muslim Action Day
By Dr. Zaher Sahloul
The Council of Islamic Organization’s first Muslim Action Day was born during the campaign for “Charity Without Fear.” On May 11, 2006, about 80 Muslim leaders and school students spent a day in Springfield, meeting with their representatives, interacting with legislatures and pushing for the adoption of the resolution. Senator Jacqueline Collins, the chief sponsor of the resolution, recognized both the CIOGC and Aqsa School’s AP U.S. History class on the Senate floor. The State of Illinois was, and still is, the only state of the union, that passed such affirmation of its Muslim citizen's rights to contribute to their charities without fear.
Since then the Council has participated in other advocacy efforts for issues regarding the common good like immigration reform, affordable housing and expanding social services. Other resolutions and legislations resulting from the lobbying effort of Council members include the IMAN-sponsored “SMART Act,” which addressed recidivism and public safety in the community and the UMMA-Sponsored Halal Food Act.
 Once again, on May 21st, the Council led an Action Day in Springfield to address several important issues to our communities. As part of the Council’s Muslim ACTION! Day, more than 500 Muslim leaders, activists and students flocked to Springfield to meet their state representatives to advocate for the introduction of Arabic language in public schools, public education funding reforms, rally against online gambling and to support state “cap & trade” environmental legislation.
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