(CLEVELAND, OH – 3/20/25) – The Cleveland and North Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today said it is appalled by the Trump administration’s recent closure of many of the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) regional offices.
In Cleveland, the Department of Education’s regional office, which housed the OCR, was closed last week as part of these cutbacks.
On Nov. 12 of last year, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) opened the Title VI Complaint made by CAIR-Ohio against Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) for federal investigation.
The complaint filed by CAIR-OHIO in July, detailed the university’s bias and hostility against students protesting for Palestine, including, but not limited to failure to address harassment, and unequal disciplinary actions against Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students.
This news comes as CWRU recently arrested 11 students- a move that many believe was due to their Palestine advocacy.
CAIR-Ohio also filed two other Title VI Complaints amidst the increased acts of discrimination against Muslim, Arab and Palestinian students. In the Fall of 2024, CAIR-Ohio filed complaints against the Beachwood School District and Columbia Station School District.
CAIR-Ohio, in conjunction with CAIR-Michigan, hosted two Title VI Webinars with Cleveland’s OCR in 2024 and in 2025.
President Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and transfer educational authority back to the states. This action would require congressional approval which has not yet been finalized.
Executive Director Faten Odeh of CAIR-Cleveland and Northern Ohio said:
“The Trump Administration has demonstrated once again that the American people do not matter and are not a priority in this administration. The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights was created to protect students. There are many ways to reduce government spending, like funding foreign genocides and wars that we have no business in financially contributing to but instead of taking care of our own, our government has decided to harm the American people. We can no longer rely on the federal government to do its job. Thousands of Americans are now left with uncertain futures for their livelihoods, for their families and for their futures. Shame on President Trump.”
Nationwide, the department has reduced its workforce by nearly half, laying off approximately 1,300 employees, including those in the Cleveland office.
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, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh (216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com