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.

White Terrorist Murders Two; Yells Rightwing Slurs Against Muslims

Jeremy Christian, killer of
two, "promoted the idea of
creating a whites-only area
in the Pacific Northwest,
a location long-touted
by white nationalists
as a possible location
for a 'homeland.'"
(SPLC)

White Extremist Strikes in Portland

Updated - A white extremist shouting racist and Islamophobic tropes killed two men in Portland and stabbed another while ridding a bus, (Southern Poverty Law Center), (The Oregonian), (Informed Comment).

Welcome to the age of Trump, and Happy Memorial Day weekend.

Muslim women on the bus who were being harassed by the Trumpian, Jeremy Christian, escaped with no physical injury.

Two men who came to the aid are the latest victims of white extremists displaying an emboldened sense of proprietorship of the United States following the campaign and election of Donald Trump.

Christian slashed the throats of the two men he killed, and stabbed another. Christian is a political supporter of Trump's political rants and the administration's hate-charged, political bromides on taxes, immigrants, Latinos, Muslims, and sanctuary cities, (Mother Jones).

Christian, "according to one witness, was heard saying 'get off the bus, and get out of the country because you don’t pay taxes here,'" (Informed Comment).

Sen. Jeff Merkley, (D-Oregon), tweeted Friday night about the attack, saying about the victims: "Champions of justice risked and lost their lives. Hate is evil," (Cabrera, ThinkProgress).

Hate is also the foundation of Donald Trump and the Republicans' rise to power.

Reports Informed Comment:

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an organization promoting American Muslim civil liberties based in Washington, D.C., released a statement asking U.S. President Donald Trump to 'speak out personally against rising bigotry and acts of racial violence in America targeting Muslims and other minority groups.'

According to CAIR, the past three years have seen a nearly 600% rise in hate crimes targeting Muslims, and those who are perceived to be Muslim.

Little by little, hate and violence are creeping across America as the country becomes great again.