CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Holds Nineteenth Annual Banquet
By Ras H. Siddiqui

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is no longer a stranger to inland California and has been very active in the Sacramento region since the year 2002. Its Annual Banquet is one of the largest gatherings of our community in California’s capital city and combines both local, state, and national activism with community outreach. And like in the past this annual event was a grand affair with close to 1,000 people in attendance. Under the theme of “The American Muslim Story: Our History, Our Vision, Our Legacy” the focus this time was on Muslim activism in which the role of the African American community is paramount.

The formalities began with emcee Dr Masood Cajee using his extraordinary oratory skills to get everyone’s attention. He familiarized everyone with what was happening outside the hall too including activities for children and an art exhibition with items for sale. And he next invited Shaykh Muhammad Jibreel to open the event with the customary recitation from the Holy Qur’an.

Khydeeja Alam addressed the banquet next in her official capacity as CAIR-Sacramento Valley/Central California Governance Board President. She echoed the sentiments of many in the audience when she immediately highlighted the cause and current suffering of the Palestinian people, especially those in Gaza. She also asked all the CAIR Board Members to stand up and be recognized. She described the theme for the event and connected it to the spirit of resistance and strength that Muslim Americans have shown in American history. A legacy of courage in the face of adversity, she said.

Two video messages were also shared here. The first was from Attorney General Rob Bonta who spoke about the protection of rights in California and the need for organizations like CAIR. He also shared his concerns about the increase in hate crimes which his office has been tracking. Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg also sent a message in support of the work being done in the community. The mayor also happens to be Jewish, so some significance is added to his participation by video here.  

Local CAIR Policy and Advocacy Coordinator Omar Altamimi next welcomed all the elected officials, friends, and allies to the event. The list of attendees or their representatives is just too long to mention each one of them in this report. Three Sacramento City Council members were also present and spoke at this event. The sponsors and supporters of this CAIR Banquet also got a mention before the subsequent awards ceremony.

The first set of awards was the “In Memoriam Lifetime Achievement Award” accepted by family members of four individuals, Osamu Sam Shimada, Ghazi Lutfi Abed, Fuad Hassouneh and Mohammed Abdul Rahim. They had all contributed a great deal to our community at large during their lifetimes and it was very nice of CAIR to make sure that their contributions were not forgotten. The second set was the “Distinguished Service Award” which was presented to one individual and an organization, Imam Ahmad Hasan Ibn Julius Thibodeaux (Masjid Sabur) and the Al-Misbaah Charity Service Organization respectively. Our congratulations to both. And the first Lifetime Achievement Award was presented next to the President and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation, Chett Hewitt. And if there is one barometer to go by to Chett’s many accomplishments, his wonderful acceptance speech was certainly one! The second lifetime award was presented to Dr Ilyasah Shabazz later in the event.

Hussam Ayloush, CAIR-California CEO, spoke next. In the background of current events Hussam’s speech was both pertinent and inspirational. After thanking the CAIR-Sacramento team for the work that they have been doing over the years, he highlighted the failure of humanity in Gaza. We ask for their forgiveness, he said. He specifically mentioned the killing of children in the bombings. They were children who had absolutely nothing to do with anything (political). Every life matters, he said. And a kid is just a kid. Hussam also lamented the fact that our American taxpayer money is being used to carry out such aggression.

CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Executive Director Basim Elkarra presented the highlights of the accomplishments of local CAIR organization next. There are several services that CAIR offers the community which should be of interest. Please check out their website for more information. Br Basim did highlight a whole lot more. This writer has heard him speak on several occasions before and this was possibly his most emotional address ever. He has already lost several relatives in Gaza to Israel’s offensive and has experienced the pain directly. And despite this fact, he has continued to play his significant role as a community leader and had words of encouragement for all the local CAIR staff members and volunteers whom he invited on to the stage. 

The all-important fundraiser conducted by Deya Elghussein followed next before the evening keynote speech. Over $500,000 dollars were raised but this may not be the final number. 

The keynote speaker, Dr Ilyasah Shabazz is an award-winning author, educator, and producer.  She is also the Chairperson of the Malcolm X & Dr Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center (The Shabazz Center). She stands on her own but by being the daughter of the late Malcolm X, she brings a history of activism to any event she speaks in. Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little who later converted to Islam and adopted the name el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz) was a leading figure of the Civil Rights Movement in America. He was assassinated in February 1965, at the young age of 39, leaving behind six daughters (two were born after his death).

Listening to Dr Ilyasah Shabazz could be termed a learning experience for all American Muslims today. Her approximately half hour address was certainly illuminating.  Ilyasah said that the work of civil rights is an ongoing commitment until every single one of us can exist free from discrimination, free from misinformation and free from Islamophobia. Civil rights and human rights remain close to my heart, she added. As the Holyland bleeds we grieve for the innocent lives lost, injured, or displaced. We must hold on, but we must hold on together The Qur’an teaches us that the killing of one innocent human being is like the killing of all of humanity and the saving of one life is equivalent to the saving of all of humanity. We must do our part. May we be guided to do our best during these very difficult days, she said. May our creator grant paradise to those who have been killed at the hands of oppressors.

Dr Ilyasah also shared some details of her family life, with a larger than life politically active father and the dangers that the family faced living in this country during the turbulent early 1960’s. She also charted some history of her father’s life, a father who had once wanted to become a lawyer during his early life. 

On current events Shabazz said that she believes that most people are fair minded and if we share the truth of our narrative of our faith with them, they will respond positively. We are seeing that today from our (non-Muslim) brothers and sisters are demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We must not fall into despair and lose hope. We must prepare for the future. As Muslims we are not here to survive (in America), we are here to thrive, she said. We are not here to follow. We are here to lead. She ended her speech with some words of wisdom from the poet-philosopher-mystic Rumi. “You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don't. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly.”