Press Release: Governor Cooper Meeting
Jan 17, 2024
Contact: Lela Ali, 252-955-9502, info@muslimwomenfor.org
Coalition of North Carolina leaders and organizations meet with Governor Cooper to demand support for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and discuss growing concerns over anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate.
RALEIGH, NC (January 17, 2024) – A multi-faith, multi-racial, and multi-issue collective met with North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper, and his team on January 10 to call for a statement in support of an immediate ceasefire in Palestine, and discuss Muslim and Arab American concerns over growing anti-Palestinian and Muslim hate. The Governor listened to testimonies from directly impacted people, interfaith leaders, academics, students, organizers, and local elected officials including. Representatives from organizations present include Muslim Women For, Jewish Voice for Peace- Triangle NC Chapter, ProChoice North Carolina, Refund Raleigh, the Islamic Association of Raleigh, As Salaam Islamic Center, , and the Community Church of Chapel Hill.
Governor Cooper listened as Palestinian community members and organizers, faith leaders, and Muslim and Arab students shared personal stories about losing dozens of family members in Gaza; the horrific realities of living under siege and occupation; the flagrant violations of human rights by the Israeli government; the rise of Islamophobic, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian hate; and the alarming trend of repression and violations of the right to practice free speech, organize, and assemble. The coalition demanded that the Governor: 1) release a statement acknowledging the 20,000+ Palestinian lives lost since October 7th that includes support for a permanent ceasefire; 2) do everything in his power to call on the Biden Administration and the NC Delegation in Congress to support a permanent ceasefire; 3) ensure any and all implementation of policies and practices to combat Islamophobia must be community-led and driven and must acknowledge rising anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian hate within this current moment; and 4) work to protect the rights of community members, students, and organizations to practice free speech, organize, and assemble in North Carolina.
During the meeting, Governor Cooper requested time to review the materials and committed to following up on the demands presented by the coalition. On Wednesday, January 17, Governor Cooper released a statement about this meeting with Muslim and Palestinian constituents on his social media, expressing that he is “deeply pained by the loss of innocent lives in Gaza” and “mourns the “staggering loss of Palestinian lives.” He also “urges humanitarian aid to be delivered safely to people who need it.” In the same statement, Governor Cooper also shares the rising fear of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hate and states, “racism, bigotry, and religious hate will not be tolerated in North Carolina.”
The meeting came after members of this group and Muslim Women For had an initial meeting with Governor Cooper’s staff on November 16 where the group presented a letter signed by over 30 organizations across the state expressing their disappointment in the Governor’s silence over the genocide in Palestine and requesting a meeting with the Governor in-person. Previously on the issue, Governor Cooper released a biased statement and ordered all US and NC flags at state facilities to be flown at half-staff “in remembrance of the dead [Israeli] innocent civilians,” without mention of Palestinian lives lost.
A growing number of North Carolina elected officials are calling for a permanent ceasefire. As of January 17th, 28 elected officials have signed an open letter urging the Biden Administration and NC Congressional Delegation to call for a permanent ceasefire. The letter was co-drafted by Representative Renee Price, Representative Marcia Cervania, Representative Pricey Harrison, Muslim Women For, and Jewish Voice for Peace. Congresswoman Alma Adams was one of the first congressional reps to sign onto ceasefire resolution 786, and thanks to tireless grassroots pressure, Congresswoman Foushee finally called for a ceasefire earlier this month. Carrboro, NC was one of the first municipalities in the country to issue a ceasefire resolution, and city council meetings across the state, including Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, and Greensboro have been packed with supporters demanding meaningful action for a permanent ceasefire.
Throughout his tenure, Governor Cooper has worked to center issues important to directly impacted and marginalized communities- protecting voting rights, protecting access to reproductive rights and care, and fighting back against anti-immigrant policies. While Governor Cooper’s recent statement acknowledging loss of Palestinian lives in Gaza is important, the group continues to urge him to lean on the values of justice and compassion and call for a permanent ceasefire to ensure safety for all people.
