Muslim Civic Coalition Helps Plan and Joins Over 450 Advocates at 2026 Asian American Action Day
Chicago, IL — May 8, 2026 — The Muslim Civic Coalition, a member of the steering committee of the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment Coalition (PAVE), helped plan and proudly participated in the 13th annual Asian American Action Day (AAA Day) on May 6, 2026.
PAVE Coalition, a powerful alliance of 19 Asian American advocacy and direct service organizations serving their local communities. This year’s event brought together more than 450 Asian American and Pacific Islander community members, advocates, and allies in Springfield.
Under the theme “Protect Our Futures,” participants celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month while lobbying state legislators on the PAVE 2026 Legislative Agenda.
Key priorities included protecting immigrant health benefits and data, holding enforcement accountable, expanding post-conviction relief and access to justice, funding immigrant services, inclusive history curricula, progressive revenue solutions, the Community Care Program, and Faith by Plate.
Zainab Zahid, Wadee AlFayoumi Fellow, delivered powerful testimony at the rally, sharing how the Muslim Civic Coalition successfully passed the Faith by Plate Act last year, making Illinois the first state in the nation to require halal and kosher meals in public schools, prisons, and hospitals.
She emphasized: “No one should be excluded from nutritional equity. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity… Yet today, the promise of this law remains incomplete without funding. A school cafeteria should be a place of community, not separation.”
Zainab Zahid, Wadee AlFayoumi Fellow, and Adam Kattom, Next Gen Board Member, represented the Muslim Civic Coalition by speaking at the rally.
This strong turnout demonstrated the growing influence and unity of Asian American communities in Illinois. The Muslim Civic Coalition extends heartfelt congratulations to the entire PAVE Coalition and Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago for convening a powerful coalition and another successful and impactful Asian American Action Day.
We remain deeply committed to pan-Asian solidarity and collective advocacy to build a more just, equitable, and inclusive Illinois.