Sign AB-91 into law!
Governor Newsom
After nearly two years of grassroots activism, California’s MENA community has pushed AB-91 all the way through the Legislature and onto Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk. We’ve come this far together — and now we face the final step: urging the Governor to sign AB-91 into law.
For far too long, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Californians have been invisible in the data that drives decisions on education, healthcare, and civil rights. Misclassified and underrepresented, our communities are erased from critical reports, limiting access to resources and weakening protections — even though California is home to the largest and most diverse MENA population in the nation.
Now, Governor Newsom has the chance to make history by signing AB-91: The MENA Inclusion Act. This landmark bill, authored by Assemblymember John Harabedian, requires state agencies to create a distinct MENA category in demographic data collection. AB-91 will ensure more than one million Californians are finally counted and represented — a matter of dignity, equity, and justice.
By signing AB-91, Governor Newsom can reaffirm California’s leadership in equity and inclusion at a time when federal threats seek to roll back protections for immigrant and minority communities. Other states — including New York, Illinois, Colorado, and Nevada — have already recognized MENA communities in their data. With the largest MENA population in the country, California must lead, not lag behind.
📢 Take Action NOW: Tell Governor Newsom to sign AB-91 into law. Share your story, explain why visibility matters, and urge him to stand with California’s MENA residents. Together, we can end decades of invisibility and ensure our communities are recognized and protected.
Sponsored by
Additional Sponsors
To:
Governor Newsom
From:
[Your Name]
Dear Governor Gavin Newsom,
As a constituent of California, I support AB-91, the MENA Inclusion Act, and I urge you to sign this bill into law.
California is home to the largest and most diverse Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) population in the United States — over one million California residents. Yet our communities are currently misclassified in state demographic data. This misclassification means California’s existing services and civil rights protections are not getting to the right people, because the State renders them invisible through a technical flaw. This invisibility distorts policy decisions, limits access to essential services, impacts health outcomes, and erases our communities from critical protections and resources. Accurate data is not merely a technical fix; it is a civil rights imperative and a matter of recognition, respect, and equity.
California has consistently led the nation in affirming diversity and protecting equality in innovative ways that are tailored specifically for Californians and reflect our diverse, multicultural, and justice-oriented values. From extending protections to vulnerable communities across the state, California has consistently shown the country what progress looks like. New York recently passed a bill almost identical to AB 91, recognizing MENA communities. We, as Californians, must be at the forefront of the fight for civil rights, immigrant justice, and democracy across the country.
Honorable Governor Newsom, AB 91 is a responsible, forward-looking investment in California’s future. By signing AB 91 into law, you can be our champion and reaffirm California’s role as a national leader in democracy, equity, economic impact, and inclusion - you will state that you are a leader who sees us, values us, and fights for us.
Please don’t let this critical issue be overlooked. We are counting on you to be our champion and to make this change happen.
Thank you for your consideration and for serving California.
Signed,