March 26, 2025 by Mari Marks When we say the First Amendment is under attack, we are not being dramatic. Most of the egregious actions happening right now in the U.S. government and in the state of Florida can all be linked back to suppression of speech. Growing up in the United States one […]
February 28, 2025 by Mari Marks Double standards. Hypocrisy. Inequity. These words have come to define the lived experience of Muslim Americans and Americans of Middle Eastern descent in Florida. Law enforcement and the media use a separate standard in their reporting of crimes committed by White perpetrators, against Muslims and Arabs. Last weekend, […]
February 3, 2025 Written by Mari Marks An Open Letter to Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature As I drove into work this morning, I couldn’t help but notice all the Florida license plates highlighting the Florida Orange. We are known for oranges, for generations farmers in Florida fought to protect their citrus farms […]
December 23, 2024 Over the last year we have witnessed a devasting year of tragedy. While we watch a genocide unfold and international laws broken in Lebanon, Yemen, and Syria, we have also contended with alarming events occurring domestically. Constitutional rights are under threat in the streets, in the classrooms and in the workplace. […]
July 26, 2024 It would never be my intent to write an inaugural post that would include one of the most inhumane and criminal Prime Ministers in modern history. However, in explaining the betrayal of much of the U.S. Congress last Wednesday, I have to bring in who they invited to address a joint […]
February 15, 2024 My name is Mari Marks, I am the Policy Manger for CAIR-Florida. We are an established civil rights organization protecting people from around the world. I come before you today to ask that you please vote yes on the resolution for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and end to violence in […]
April 22, 2024 My name is Mari, I am a wife, a mom and International Human Rights scholar. I am also the Policy Manger for CAIR-Florida. We are an established civil rights organization protecting people from around the world. I come before you today to ask that you please stop voting on annual and […]
May 2, 2024 My name is Mari Marks. I am the Policy Manager for CAIR Florida. I am also a proud graduate in International Relations from Kent State University, and a grad student at American University. In two days, Kent will honor the victims killed by the National Guard on May 4th, as they […]
May 5, 2024 Addressing the university student movement in the U.S. from a proud International Relations alumnus from Kent State University, and humanitarian professional. First of all, the story is Gaza and the West Bank. The student protests sweeping the nation, and making world news, are in response to 7 months of protests for […]
