This in-depth interview, conducted by Context Corner reporter Bj Lewis, explores how Governor Greg Abbott’s designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a “foreign terrorist organization” fits into a more extended history of civil rights struggles in Texas and across the United States. In a candid conversation, our guest connects Abbott’s rhetoric to segregation-era tactics, reflects on how state-level policies shape everyday safety and religious freedom for Texas Muslims, and explains why legal challenges to the governor’s order could set significant precedents in First Amendment and civil liberties.
Over the course of the discussion, Lewis carefully unpacks the myths around “Sharia law,” traces the rise of a well-funded anti-Muslim industry, and invites the guest to compare today’s political climate with the Jim Crow South he remembers from his youth. The interview, published on Context Corner, also highlights what meaningful civic engagement can look like for Muslim communities—arguing that building coalitions, standing up for other marginalized groups, and investing in institutions like schools and hospitals are essential forms of resistance.
For Context Corner readers seeking more than sound bites, this interview offers historical context, legal insight, and a grounded look at how state-level decisions reverberate through mosques, neighborhoods, and families across Texas today
