Wisconsin Republicans Still Pushing Anti-Muslim Bill

UW-Madison Law School prof,
Asifa Quraishi-Landes,speaks out
against religious defamation by
Wisconsin Republicans,
(Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Continuing Republican effort to vilify Muslims

Wisconsin Republicans, and only Republicans, are still advocating for an anti-Muslim bill that Republicans claim is needed to protect "fundamental" rights against foreign and religious entities seen as set to take over the American judiciary.

The bill, (Assembly Bill 401), is authored by a white supremacist Republican legislator, State Rep. Thomas Weatherston, (R-Village of Caledonia, Wisconsin), and was introduced in June in the 2017-18 legislative session, (Wisconsin Independent, Uppity Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Legislature).

Reports Annysa Johnson in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Critics, including the American Bar Association and many non-Muslims, argue that the laws are unnecessary because such protections already exist in American jurisprudence. And they're seen by many as part of a larger agenda to vilify Muslims.

'If you look at the promotional materials, the lobbying, it's the same people who are pushing against Sharia around the country — holding rallies, talking about 'Sharia creep' and Muslims taking over,' said Asifa Quraishi-Landes, who teaches constitutional and Islamic law at the University of Wisconsin-Madison [Law School] and serves as president of the National Association of Muslim Lawyers. 'They see any acknowledgment of Sharia in American Muslim life as a first step to the Trojan Horse.' Last week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations called on Legislative leaders to reject the bill, saying it's unconstitutional and 'contrary to our nation’s crucial principle of not elevating or marginalizing one faith community.' [some links added]

The white supremacist Republican legislator, State Rep. Thomas Weatherston and supporters, have not been disavowed by other Wisconsin Republicans. Weatherston's bill has drawn a total of 14 co-sponsors.

For more information:

The hate bill, Wisconsin 2017 Assembly Bill 401, was introduced June 19, 2017 by Republican Representatives Weatherston, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, Horlacher, Kremer, Murphy, Quinn, Ripp, Sanfelippo, Skowronski, Thiesfeldt and Tusler, and cosponsored by Republican Senators Nass and Moulton.

Wisconsin 2017 Assembly Bill 401 was referred to the Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics.