Stand Tall, Stand Together
By Dr Salam Al-Marayati
MPAC
We’ll never forget where we were when we heard about the mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand. Here at home, we immediately contacted law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of Muslims attending Friday prayer at mosques. We also rallied our allies for a show of force in solidarity with Muslims to say that “An attack on one is an attack on all.” We will all work together to push back against hate speech and hate crimes against any member of our society.
The real issue is that, along with our partners, we are struggling to turn coexistence and pluralism in America from a dream to a reality. That’s the core of our work and our vision for America. By representing you in the media, in the halls of Congress, and in all critical conversations, we are taking steps toward this reality. These past few days were a step in that direction.
We are calling on Congress to hold a hearing on white nationalism to explore how it manifests in violence toward our communities. You’ll be hearing more on this soon.
A brief summary of what we did:
We were present in national and local media to ensure that your voice and values were present in the discussions around the New Zealand attacks. This representation was critical to ensuring that both the media and our elected officials are taking the important step to call this attack what it is -- terrorism. And to be clear on its motivations -- white nationalism.
Across the country, we held events and vigils to show a united stand against hate and solidarity with Muslims. In LA alone, over 100 organizations across civil rights, interfaith, and law enforcement communities came together to stand in solidarity with Muslims. Here is what MPAC staff and supporters did these past few days:
Los Angeles // Joint press conference
Southern California // Pasadena vigil
Washington D.C. // Press conference
Western New York // Press conference & vigil
Atlanta // Forum at St. Lukes Episcopal Church
What you can do
1. Give -- Contribute to the impacted families and communities.
2. Support -- Check in with your Muslim friends and neighbors. Visit a local mosque. Ask your place of worship, school, or club to host a vigil.
3. Advocate -- Contact your Members of Congress. They're in your home district this week..
We are still grieving. Times like these are hard, but we must take steps to work for an America where hate is not normalized.
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