(CLEVELAND, OH – 2/3/26) – The CAIR-Northern Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed the Cleveland City Council’s passage of Tanisha’s Law by a unanimous vote. This law would establish a bureau to respond to mental health crisis with unarmed social workers and mental health professionals rather than police.
Tanisha’s Law is named after Tanisha Anderson who died more than 10 years ago while being restrained by Cleveland Police after law enforcement responded to a mental health crisis. She was 37 years old and left behind her family and children.
The original sponsors of the bill were former Council member Rebecca Maurer, Council member Charles Slife and it was spearheaded by Council member Stephanie Howse-Jones. The sponsors were joined by Case Western Reserve University’s law students and several other community organizations.
Council member Slife emphasized the importance of community advocacy in the success of Tanisha’s Law, ” For too long our society has treated mental health as a matter of public safety rather than of public health. Cleveland’s new Bureau of Community Crisis Response closes that chapter and positions us to help our neighbors when they have mental health needs. This forward momentum would not have been possible without engaged residents and community organizations, including CAIR.”
CAIR Northern Ohio, a member of the Cleveland Power Alliance, attended a community meeting on Jan. 5 with Mayor Justin Bibb and asked if the administration would include language interpretation services with this response to mental health crisis. His response was that the City of Cleveland would rely heavily on the community and grassroot organizations to assist in providing language services during mental health crisis responses.
Faten Husni Odeh, Executive Director of CAIR-Northern Ohio, shared “CAIR-Northern Ohio is pleased that Cleveland City Council has chosen compassion over punishment for those suffering from mental health. We know that mental health is on the rise and needs to be addressed as a medical matter-not a criminal matter. Our hope is that the City of Cleveland will include professional interpretation services as they roll out the plan for Tanisha’s Law. Mental health crises do not discriminate by language. In a city as diverse as Cleveland, it is essential that crisis response services are accessible, culturally responsive, and inclusive of non-English-speaking communities.”
In an article by Spectrum News 1, Council member Howse-Jones addressed the daughter of Tanisha Anderson, Mauvion, in a comment during Monday night’s meeting. “I just want to let her know that your mother is not forgotten,” Howse-Jones said. “And the tragedy that you experienced and that of your family, we are now going to ensure that no other person in Cleveland experiences.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Northern Ohio, Faten Husni Odeh (216) 830-2247, fodeh@cair.com