http://socialistaction.org/stop-persecution-of-muslims-immigrants/
Stop persecution of Muslims & immigrants!
Published March 11, 2016.
March 2016 Islamophobia 3
By KAREN SCHRAUFNAGEL
Beginning in early January, Socialist Action joined with many other
organizations for a series of conference calls on the need for united
action to more effectively combat the rising tide of Islamophobia and
anti-immigrant and anti-refugee hatred in this country. The ad-hoc
coalition that was formed took the name Stand Together Against Racism
and Islamophobia (“STARI”) and put out a call for a week of coordinated
actions across the country between Feb. 13 and Feb. 21.
As the call explains: “The corporate media and some politicians on both
sides of the aisle believe their interests can be advanced by
scapegoating the poor and those oppressed by racism, anti-Muslim and
anti-immigrant prejudice, mass deportations, and the exclusion of
refugees fleeing endless U.S.-supported wars abroad. Hate, fear
mongering and war are increasingly publicly promoted for heinous ends
and especially to divide the victims of the ever-deepening social
cutbacks government austerity policies inflict. We say no to
Islamophobia and all forms of religious prejudice. We denounce the
endless racist police murders of unarmed members of the nation’s Black
and poor communities. We reject militarily sealed borders and mass
deportations of Latino people.”
Responding to the call, even before the official week started, two
significant events were held on the East Coast. On Jan. 19, more than
200 people came out to a zoning board hearing in Bayonne, N.J., to
support the Muslim community when their application to build an Islamic
community center drew vitriolic protest from racists. Unfortunately, the
packed meeting, which ran four hours, produced no decision from the
board, and advocates for justice will be forced to return to the next
hearing slated for March 14. On Jan. 31, the Bangladesh American
Community Council held a Town Hall Meeting in the Bronx, N.Y., to
strengthen minority voices in the national dialogue.
By the time the week started, nearly 70 organizations across the country
had endorsed the call, and events took place from California to
Connecticut and from Superior, Wis., to Houston, Texas.
The week began on Saturday, Feb. 13, with a panel discussion at Trinity
College in Connecticut. The event was entitled, “Opposing Islamophobia,
Deportations, Racism, and War,” and drew about 60 people to hear
Connecticut Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) director Mongi
Dhaouadi, among others. Grannies for Peace in Albany, N.Y., held a
Valentine’s vigil that same day. Featuring a banner that read, “Grannies
Embrace Refugees: Spread Love Not Hate,” and wearing red, 19 grannies
(and their allies) braved frigid weather to send their message of love
to refugees driven from their homes by war and climate change.
On Valentine’s Day, shoppers at a mall in Houston were greeted by
members of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston Social Services
Committee who passed out 300 roses, with the Quran verse attached:
“Humanity is but a single brotherhood; so make peace with your
brethren.” In Tallahassee, Fla., the Network for Justice and Peace,
together with local chapters of Vietnam Veterans Against the War and
Veterans for Peace held a Peace and Justice Picket Line.
In Superior, Wis., where mayor Bruce Hagen was in the news recently for
an Islamophobic smear of President Obama, 10 picketers brought the
message: “Love Diversity / Hate Islamophobia” to a busy intersection.
The action drew an equal number of counter-protesters, presumably to
advocate AGAINST diversity and FOR hatred. At mid-week, STARI received a
photo of Afghan Peace Volunteers sharing a message of solidarity all the
way from Kabul, Afghanistan!
Before the week was over, there was an interfaith discussion in Orchard,
N.Y., a film showing in Rochester, N.Y. (“My Name is Khan” provides
perspective on the life experience of Muslim refugees and immigrants in
this country), and forums in Berkeley, Calif., Richmond, Va., and
Minneapolis. The Solidarity Forum in Virginia was dedicated to the
legacy of Malcolm X (marking the 51st anniversary of his assassination)
and included six speakers who addressed attacks on Middle Eastern and
African-American Muslims, Latino immigrants, the Black community
generally, low-income workers, and the environment in front of an
audience of nearly 60.
In Minneapolis, over two dozen endorsing organizations came together to
create a new coalition, Minnesotans Against Islamophobia, which hosted a
rally, march, and panel presentation on Saturday, Feb. 20. More than 150
people participated over the course of the afternoon. With such signs as
“NO to War, YES to Refugees,” and chants including “FBI let’s be clear,
Muslims are welcome here,” the rally & march through the West Bank
neighborhood delighted the largely immigrant residents, some of whom
joined in.
At the panel that followed the march, audience members learned about the
Department of Homeland Security’s “Countering Violent Extremism” (CVE)
program and the effect it is having on the local Somali Community. The
speakers were CAIR-MN executive director Jaylani Hussein, Sadik Warfa of
Global Somali Diaspora, Imam Hassan Mohamoud, and Deqa Warsame—the
mother of Khalid Abdulkhadir, one of several Somali youth currently in
jail awaiting trial on very serious charges.
Minnesota has the largest population of Somali immigrants in the country
and is one of only three metro areas where the controversial CVE program
is being tested (the other two are Boston and Los Angeles). In the name
of stopping terrorism, this program is in local high schools, directing
teachers to spy on “radicalizing” students.
Wearing head covering or other religious clothing is taken as a sign
that a student is becoming radical. Paid informants are sent in to
entrap young people. This is what happened in the case of some youths
arrested last May, charged with supporting terrorism for allegedly
trying to buy false passports (presumably so they could leave the
country and join ISIS) and threatened with 15-plus-year jail terms if
convicted.
The assembled crowd heard as well from Karen Schraufnagel of Socialist
Action, the panel’s moderator, who pointed out that: “Muslim youth are
not the threat. Black youth are not the threat. Immigrants and refugees
are here escaping U.S. imperialist wars or fleeing the desperate poverty
capitalist global trade policies inflict on their home countries. The
forces of capitalism and imperialism are the real threat. But their
crimes are not even called crime, they go by the name of “profit
maximization”. Make no mistake, profit maximization is ecocidal,
genocidal violence. Hands off the Muslim Community! Prosecute the real
Criminals!”
During the same week an action took place in Wisconsin that truly
highlighted the integral role immigrants (in this case Latin@s) play in
keeping the capitalist system afloat. The STARI coalition was not
involved in organizing “Un Dia Sin Latinos” but were deeply gratified to
see more than 20,000 people gather in the capital city to protest two
pieces of ignorant anti-immigrant legislation.
Another deeply gratifying rally occurred days after the official week of
action ended. At the State House in Providence, Rhode Island, a rally
against Syrian refugees was completely overwhelmed by refugee
supporters. The anti-Syrian refugee rally was sponsored by the
Boston-based Americans for Peace and Tolerance (an Orwellian name if
ever there was one). Their speakers were visibly flustered facing
hundreds and hundreds opposed to their message, who repeatedly
interrupted and challenged them. When the racist rally finally ended,
the pro-refugee forces took to the stage with speaker after speaker
sharing messages of love and solidarity with the immigrant and refugee
communities. Perhaps as many as 200 students from various organizations
at Brown University worked with CAIR-MA, RI State Council of Churches,
several Unitarian Universalist churches, the Refugee Dream Center and
others to pull off the counter protest at the anti-Syrian refugee event
and pro-refugee rally that followed.
Stop Islamophobia! Defend the Muslim Community!
Photo: Anti-racist protest in Minneapolis. From Minnesotans for Syrian
Refugees.
Posted in Anti-War, Civil Liberties, Immigration, International, Middle
East, Minneapolis, National Oppression. | Tagged immigration, Islam,
Muslims, refugees.
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