Our Work

JMC was formed in October 2016 in order to create a Muslim led space that would focus on building community power in the DC-metro area in order to resist institutional Islamophobia. In a span of a few months, our efforts have successfully resulted in the following:

• Launched a bi-monthly DMV Resisting Islamophobia Alliance space for organizations tackling Islamophobia to convene together and share resources as groups who are part of the DC, Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County area.  At our first meeting, we learned about the unique challenges Muslim communities are facing in the DMV, and specifically the ways our communities are impacted my multiple forms of criminalization. Since then, we've had over twenty organizations in the DMV area participate in our coalition and who will work to collectively push back on policies impacting our communities.
  
• Submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court against the Muslim Ban with other Muslim organizations.
  
• Launched a Muslim Women’s Wellness and Resistance Program after the murder of Nabra, that includes workshops on self-defense, yoga, and other topics. We are excited to offer this bi-monthly space to the DC community.

• Led an effort to write a solidarity statement demanding Noor Salman’s prosecution be dropped and organized signatures from over 100 civil rights, gender justice, and social justice organizations.

• Launched a Community Defense Program that has mobilized thousands of people to protest against the Muslim Ban and hate violence; provided hundreds of people with constant political education that raises awareness on topics such as the Muslim Ban, Muslim Registries, Guantanamo Bay and the use of torture; and, organized Know Your Rights Workshops for Muslims.
  

• Led an action outside the Senate uplifting the Muslim victims of CIA’s torture campaign during the confirmation hearing of Gina Haspel. Check out our #BlockGinaHaspel toolkit here.

Our Impact:

• The National Immigration Project within the National Lawyer’s Guild awarded us the 2017 Daniel Levy Aware for resisting injustice and defending immigrants’ rights.  

• Our local work was highlighted in the South Asian Americans Leading Together report on confronting hate violence as a promising local model in combating hate violence.

• We were selected as one of 12 organizations in the DC area creating a more racially equitable Washington as part of the Reframing Washington grant, and the only Muslim-led organization fighting institutionalized Islamophobia.

• DC government passed an updated sanctuary resolution that included explicit language on fighting Islamophobia and language that DC’s government will not participate with federal agencies to implement Muslim registries.

• Helped write the DC Street Harassment Prevention Act that includes language around addressing harassment based on religion, and specifically uplifting the ways Muslim women are targeted.

So, How Can You Help?

1. Support Justice for Muslim Collective's work on this page. Every dollar counts!

2. Share this LaunchGood campaign via email and social media with all your family and friends using the hashtag #BuildMuslimPower

3. Spread the word about the work of Justice for Muslims Collective and our work to mainstream an Islamophobia analysis in the War on Terror and to build a base of Muslims who are empowered to resist state violence.