Members of Congress
“Greg Abbott’s Islamophobic effort to ‘shut down’ an organization whose speech he doesn’t like puts the rights of all Texans at risk. This is an abuse of power.” – Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX)
“The normalization of anti-Muslim hate speech is vile. This bigot [Abbott] should have no place in elected office.” – Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)
“This is beyond bigoted name calling. It’s un-American. A state government’s is attacking the constitutionally protected right to freedom of religion, and it will not stand. I urge all of people of faith and goodwill to condemn this attack on one of the largest Muslim civil rights organizations in America.” – Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
“Hateful actions like this are meant to demonize Muslim communities and directly lead to the Islamophobic harassment and threats of violence that have targeted our neighbors in Dearborn and elsewhere in recent days.” – Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI)
Texas Parties
“This is a dangerous, racist, and Islamophobic designation, which is a complete, degradation of the First Amendment. While Greg Abbott and the Republicans claim o follow the Constitution, they would trample on someone’s First Amendment rights when they don’t agree with or worship with them.” – Texas Democratic Party
“Governor Abbott’s proclamation is a shameful, un-American attack on religious freedom.” – Harris County Democratic Party
“The increasing demonization of Muslim Americans by Abbott is irresponsible and dangerous. Don’t fall for the distraction. Abbott has been a failure: grocery prices have soared, housing is scarce and expensive, and healthcare remains unaffordable, and without Medicaid expansion.” – Texas Legislative Progressive Caucus
“This baseless and inflammatory attack targets not only a respected civil rights group but the broader Muslim American community in Texas. For decades CAIR has worked to defend families, protect civil liberties, and stand up for those targeted by hate.” – Asian American Democrats of Texas Caucus
Texas State Legislators
“Governor Abbott’s action yesterday shows his intent was always to use his unilateral authority to recklessly designate our community members as terrorists.” – Texas State Senator Molly Cook (D-Houston)
“Texas is strongest when we honor our values of tolerance, pluralism, and respect for all people, and we urge the governor to revoke this decision and reaffirm or state’s commitment to true religious freedom.” – 27 TX State Reps. including Salman Bhojani, Linda Garcia, Jolanda Jones, Lauren Ashley, Ron Reynolds, Chris Turner, Christina Morales, Jessica Gonzalez, Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, Ann Johnson, Suleman Lalani, Donna Howard, Ray Lopez, Armando Walle, Gervin-Hawkins, Vikki Goodwin, Lulu Flores, Josey Garcia, Ana Hernandez, Mihaela Plesea, Terry Meza, Charlene Ward Johnson, Vincent Perez, and Rafael Anchia.
“Allowing the Governor to be the sole arbiter of which American is or is not welcome in our state is incredibly dangerous. This is the emergence of thought crimes, and it should be deeply concerning to every Texan who values Liberty.” – Texas State Rep. Gene Wu
“CAIR—the Council on American-Islamic Relations—has spent decades protecting civil rights, combatting discrimination, and defending Texans from religious hostility. Your proclamation is not about safety. It is about targeting Muslims to score political points.” – Texas State Rep. Jolanda Jones
“Governor Abbott’s proclamation smearing CAIR is false, Islamophobic, and dangerous for Muslims across Texas. I stand with our Muslim, Latino, and Asian communities and urge you to call the Governor’s office and reject this politics of fear.” – Texas State Rep. Suleiman Lalani
“ Religious freedom is a core American value, and there is no place in Texas for the bigotry the Governor is promoting. My colleagues and I urge the governor to reverse this harmful proclamation and uphold the constitutional rights of Muslim Texans.” – Texas State Rep. Chris Turner
Other Texas Officials
“Gov. Abbot’s actions against the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR are improper and potentially unconstitutional. Using that flawed proclamation as a pretext to infringe on a constituent’s First Amendment Rights before the SBOE is intolerable.” – Five members of the Texas State Board of Education
“I strongly condemn Governor Abbott’s dangerous and Islamophobic action targeting CAIR.
CAIR is a vital civil-rights organization that supports Muslim Texans facing discrimination. This decision promotes Islamophobia and harms our communities. “ – Houston City Council Member Letitia Plummer
“The Governor’s rhetoric fractures community trust and undermines the safety and cohesion that government is meant to protect. We, as Harris County Commissioners, condemn the Governor’s decision and urge him to reverse it.” – Harris County Commissioners Rodney Ellis, Lesley Briones, and Adrian Garcia
“Our role as public servants is to keep people safe and bring people together, not single out residents because of their faith or heritage.” – Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee
“Stoking Islamophobia has, for too long, been a ploy for political points. Politicians like Greg Abbott try to stoke the fires of division by othering Minority groups and denying equal rights even to American citizens.” – Austin City Councilmembers Krista Laine, Mike Seigel, and Zo Qadri
“This isn’t about security. It’s political theater. He’s weaponizing conspiracy and prejudice against a faith community to advance his own agenda, while undermining the constitutional right to dissent. This echoes past discrimination, such as the FBI’s COINTELPRO counterintelligence program against domestic political groups like the NAACP in the 1960s. We know the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. I stand with CAIR, with Muslim Texans, and with every community targeted by hate masquerading as policy.” – Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy
Civil Rights, Human Rights, Free Speech, Rule of Law, Anti-Hate, and Muslim Organizations and Individuals
“This proclamation raises significant First Amendment and due process concerns. It represents the latest escalation by state officials in a pattern of politically motivated attacks on nonprofit organizations led by, and primarily serving, immigrants and communities of color. We demand transparency and accountability in government actions that impact community-serving nonprofits and remain committed to working toward a freer and fairer Texas for all.” – ACLU TX
“This designation is without legal or factual basis and constitutes a dangerous escalation of anti-Muslim political rhetoric weaponized to suppress constitutionally protected advocacy and civil rights work.” – National Lawyers Guild
“The Governor’s unfounded accusations that CAIR seeks to “forcibly impose Sharia Law” follows growing anti-Muslim and anti-democratic rhetoric grounded in mounting efforts to cast immigrants and communities of color in a threatening light. This act by the Governor also reflects the politically motivated targeting of the nonprofit sector by the Trump administration.” – Human Rights First
“Any organization that advocates for a fair shot for all is in danger if a Governor can, without evidence, declare them a terrorist group, shut them down, and deny the basic Constitutional rights.” – Hany Khalil, Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
“Abbott’s Islamophobic attacks threaten the freedoms of us all…When politicians decide who gets rights based on fear and prejudice, every American’s liberty is at risk.” – Asian Americans Advancing Justice
“Texas leaders are weaponizing their power against our communities — and we’re calling it out. These attacks are political retaliation against Texans who dare to organize, vote, and speak out.” – Asian Texans for Justice Action Fund
“This designation is an attack on democracy, especially the Bill of Rights and is utterly unacceptable. We urge all Americans, faith leaders, civil society advocates, and elected officials to defend Muslim Americans’ right to organize and enjoy their first amendment.” – Sign-on Statement initiated by Justice for All. Endorsed by 10 national organizations, 8 coalitions, 60 state and local organizations, 24 businesses, and 2 individuals as of 12:30 Eastern on November 20,, 2025.
“As Hindus for Human Rights, we stand with CAIR and with Muslim communities in Texas and across the U.S. This proclamation is not about safety. It’s about silencing dissent, attacking immigrants and Muslims, and undermining the First Amendment.” – Hindus for Human Rights
“Rather than addressing the real needs of Texans, Governor Abbott continues to squander time and resources on performative gestures aimed at satisfying his allies within the Islamophobia industry and pro-Israel lobbying groups such as AIPAC.” – American Muslims for Palestine
“This is political theater at its worst: weaponizing fear, pandering to bigotry, and endangering the civil liberties of millions of Americans.” – Muslim American Society
“This is an Islamophobic and inflammatory act of political theatre designed to malign a well-known civil rights organization, which has taken up critical work in defense of our communities for over 30 years.” – Palestine Youth Movement
“This designation is unconstitutional, unsupported by any credible factual basis, and represents bigotry on its face. It stigmatizes an entire community and chills the First Amendment rights of Muslim Texans and all organizations engaged in lawful advocacy.” – Muslim Bar Association of Houston
“If this can be done to CAIR—the organization that defends our civil rights—it can be done to any of us. Who will protect your masjid, your community, and your rights in America?” – Justice for All
“Greg Abbott has a long track record as a both political carnival barker for the Israeli government and as a dangerous enemy of the First Amendment. His attempts to sow division among Texans and Americans for the purpose of advancing the agenda of a foreign nation is despicable and unacceptable.” – United States Council of Muslim Organizations Secretary General Oussama Jammal
“Gov. Abbott’s attack on CAIR is part of a long history of state suppression of civil rights movements. His language leans into Islamophobic tropes, casting entire communities as threats to justify extreme policies and distract from real governance failures.” – United States Campaign for Palestinian Rights
“To be clear – CAIR – the Council on American Islamic Relations – is like the NAACP for Muslims. It’s the single most mainstream Muslim organization in America. It’s a civil rights organization that fights against Islamophobia.” – Shaun King
“Islamophobia isn’t just cheap discrimination. It’s also just a distraction that cheap politicians use hoping you won’t dig up who funds them, and who runs them. We’re not scared, and most people aren’t stupid enough to fall for it.” – Omar Sulieman
Traditional Media
“There is no evidence that either CAIR or the Muslim Brotherhood are seeking to impose Shariah law in America.” – New York Post
“The governor doesn’t really have to satisfy any criteria.” – Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, addressing what legal requirements are needed for the Governor of Texas to designate a group a terrorist organization. From the same article, “Jones said to his knowledge, neither group is currently looking to purchase land in Texas, making this more of a symbolic move.”
Those supporting Governor Abbott’s proclamation
“The reality is that Islam is a political ideology that is incompatible with the United States. It’s incompatible with our constitutional system and with Western civilization more broadly.” – Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) [archive]
“Outstanding Leadership.” – Rep. Randy Fine. In 2025, Fine has said he believes “Islam is not compatible with western values” and has called for solving “the Muslim problem.”
“Islam is seeks [sic] to subvert the U.S. constitution and Texas laws.” – X user John Ferguson (@JohnnyWhiskeyTX), whose content Governor Abbott has previously uplifted through his official X account.
