Council on American-Islamic Relations Sacramento Valley/Central California (CAIR-SV/CC)

CAIR–SV/CC opposes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), President Donald Trump’s travel restrictions on Muslim-majority countries, and Israel’s military response to Hamas terrorism in the Palestinian territories. ^{3 4 5}

In 2024, CAIR-SV/CC helped draft and influence the passage of a Sacramento City Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. ^{6 7}

Activities

In addition to immigration services, civil rights training, and other legal advocacy work, the Council on American-Islamic Relations Sacramento Valley/Central California publicizes and opposes what it considers civil rights abuses against American Muslims. In September 2020, CAIR-SV/CC condemned an alleged racist assault in Placer County during which a male and female couple yelled racial slurs at a Muslim man before the male suspect punched and stabbed the victim. ⁸

CAIR-SV/CC also conducts research on racial discrimination in America. In April 2023, CAIR-SV/CC released CAIR National’s yearly civil rights report that highlighted a 38 percent decrease in total complaints CAIR received from American Muslims, but a 63 percent increase in discrimination complaints in schools and educational settings. The report also underlined CAIR’s opposition to FBI surveillance of Muslim communities and CAIR’s support for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) activities against Israel. ⁹

Local Political Influence

In March 2024, the Council on American-Islamic Relations Sacramento Valley/Central California helped Sacramento Mayor Daryll Steinberg (D) draft a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. After pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted city council meetings for months, the council passed the resolution. ^{6 7}

Critics of the resolution accused Steinberg of using the resolution as political theater for a potential bid for California Attorney General. A California Globe article criticized Steinberg’s prioritization of the Gaza ceasefire resolution while he presided over a $66 million budget deficit. ¹⁰

Partners

The Council on American-Islamic Relations Sacramento Valley/Central California maintains several partnerships with other left-of-center advocacy groups. These partners include ICE Out of California, the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), the Muslim American Society (MAS), the National Lawyers Guild, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), and others. ¹¹

Leadership

The CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California website lists Reshad Noorzay as both the executive director and the development and special projects director. Noorzay received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and his master’s degree from Southern California University in information systems. He spent over a decade in the private sector at Google and Amazon, and also worked in various capacities at Islamic Relief USA and the Muslim American Society (MAS). ^{12 13}

Andrew Li is the president of the CAIR-SV/CC governance board of directors. Li began working with CAIR as a member of its San Diego chapter governance board in 2007. ^{14 15}

Finances

As its subchapter, the Council on Ameircan-Islamic Relations-Sacramento Valley/Central California reports its financial information through the CAIR-California tax return. In 2023, CAIR-CA reported $17,442,755 in total revenue, $15,190,519 in total expenses, and $23,314,204 in total assets. ¹⁶