February Newsletter: Iraqi refugee fights authoritarian regimes, MA supporter makes a change in his state, My speech at CU Boulder

Last month, I was thrilled to be back on a college campus and connect with my supporters! If you missed my event at the University of Colorado Boulder, you can hear my speech about the market for victimhood and the danger it poses to America here.

After fleeing Iraq and finding refuge in the U.S., our friend and partner of the Critical Thinking Fellowship campus program, Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, became known for fighting authoritarian regimes and dangerous ideologies. Our Campus Program Manager, Julia O’Donnell, talked to him about what inspired and drives his relentless activism. Read about it here.

Legislators tell us that hearing from their own constituents helps them prioritize issues. That is why supporters who take time to educate and advocate their local legislators fuel our movement with tremendous power. This month, Michael Cavallo, a supporter from Massachusetts, met with his state representative to discuss the proposed child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) bills currently being considered in the Massachusetts legislature. Hear more about his experience and what his representative said here.

Recently, nine states introduced anti-FGM bills and two states proposed bills to strengthen their existing anti-FGM legislation. You can read about these bills here. However, there are still 15 states with no anti-FGM legislation. We must hold these states accountable, and demand that they prioritize women and girl’s health this year. If you live in one of these states, please reach out and demand the criminalization of FGM.

It only takes a few minutes to make a difference for women and girls in your area.

Gratefully,

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Founder