Californians Condemn Islamophobic AD-65 Ads

LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters), California Women’s List, Black Los Angeles Young Democrats, and Project Super Bloom released the following statements in response to a corporate-funded super PAC, “Californians for Accountability — Against Fatima Iqbal-Zubair in AD-65” running a $650,000 advertisement against a Muslim woman of color running for the California State Assembly. The ad is funded by McDonald’s franchise owners, Big Oil, and a roster of major corporate donors including Chevron, Phillips 66, Valero, PG&E, Edison, and Walmart. In just the last few weeks, corporate special interests have spent more than two million dollars to defeat Fatima.

“The fact that a PAC bankrolled by some of the most powerful corporate interests in the country is resorting to these kinds of attacks says everything about the playbook these industries have relied on for years: protect profits at all costs, distract from their own record, and divide communities when people start demanding accountability,” said Matt Abularach-Macias, Political & Organizing Director, California Environmental Voters. “These are the same powerful interests driving pollution, price gouging, and rising costs for working families, and now they’re pouring money into hateful attacks because they’re threatened by leaders, like Fatima, who will actually stand up to them. It’s outrageous that corporations with this much power and money are resorting to racist and Islamophobic fearmongering to protect their bottom line. Californians deserve better.”

“These attacks are racist, dangerous, and rooted in the same politics of division that have been used to silence those who dare to challenge the status quo. When women leaders rise as strong voices for working families and accountability, corporate special interests respond with fear and hate. California Women’s List stands firmly with Fatima Iqbal-Zubair and against racism, Islamophobia, and corporate-funded smear campaigns,” said Zahra Hajee, Vice President of California Women’s List. 

“Working-class Black communities in Los Angeles have long borne the brunt of environmental racism, unaffordable housing, wage theft, and systemic disinvestment while corporations profit off our pain and their politicians fail to protect us. Now, the same corporate interests like the fossil fuel industry and fast food corporations that have harmed and exploited our communities are spending millions to attack Fatima Iqbal-Zubair because she has consistently stood with Black, working-class, and young people in the fight for racial and economic justice,” said Bryant Odega, Vice President of the Black Los Angeles Young Democrats.  “We stand proudly with Fatima because these racist and Islamophobic attacks are rooted in fear of a leader who refuses to let corporations continue exploiting our communities without accountability.”

“We unequivocally stand with Fatima Iqbal-Zubair and denounce the racist, Islamophobic rhetoric that corporations and Independent Expenditures have pedaled against her in this election. Corporations like Chevron, PG&E, McDonald’s, Meta, and Google are what is wrong with our democracy, as they attempt to steal this election and silence the voices of young people and working families. We won’t stand for that, and we know that Fatima, as a champion for economic and environmental justice, will make them pay their fair share,” said Jose Merino, Fellowship Manager for Project Super Bloom. “Hope is on the ballot—hope for a better future, where clean water is a reality, where public schools are well funded, and where corporations are held accountable. We ask that voters look past the gross, personal attacks on Fatima and see the vision she has for this district.”

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