Dear John,

May peace and blessings be upon you and your family.

In 1987, we watched helplessly as Palestinians rose up in opposition to 20 years of brutal occupation. It was in that moment of uncertainty and frustration that we decided that we needed to do something. A year later, we established the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Now, more than three decades later, many feel like history is repeating itself. I am writing to you today to tell you, it is not.

“God does not burden a person except [with that within] its capacity.” - Quran 2:256

For the majority of the first 20 years in this work, we were alone. A young organization representing a fledgling community, struggling for our rights at home while pushing back against a foreign policy agenda that devalued Muslim lives worldwide. Today, things are different.

Given the current events and the importance of building power in the American Muslim community, can we count on one more show of support from you this year in the amount of $350? Our goal is to reach $100,000 before midnight on December 31st.

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Our decades of consistent, principled coalition building and allyship are paying off. Now, when we stand up, for our rights at home or the rights of the oppressed abroad, we have allies and supporters of every creed and color standing with us. Now, we are not struggling alone.

Thanks to your support, our organization has continued to make strides. You will find out more about what we have accomplished in the days to come but here is a snapshot of our work and impact:

Adaptive Response in Times of Crisis
* Met with Departments of State, Education, Justice, and Homeland Security to advocate for the rights of Palestinians and the protection of students and community members facing a new wave of anti-Muslim animus.
* Met with over 100 members of Congress and relevant Congressional Committees, advocating for the Ceasefire Now Resolution.

Putting Young American Muslims in Positions to Succeed
* This summer we trained 20 young leaders in Washington D.C. through our Congressional Leadership Development Program (CLDP), empowering the next generation of changemakers– youth that will go on to work at the institutions and on the policies that impact American Muslims every single day. Today, past CLDP alumni are running for office, working in human rights advocacy, and representing our communities as public servants.

Amplifying Inclusion, Representation, and Authentic Narratives
* At the Sundance and South by Southwest Film Festivals, we continued shifting the narrative around Muslims and Islam through authentic Muslim storytelling; we hosted multiple panel discussions, allowing Muslim creatives to come together and share their perspectives with the entertainment community.

The past 35 years of advocacy and engagement rooted in our Islamic values of justice, mercy, equality, human dignity, peace, and freedom have shown America and the world that American Muslims are a conscientious, active community, and a valuable and dependable ally wherever injustice may rear its head. Now, we are seeing the fruits of the seeds we have planted over the decades. But these past 35 years have only been a beginning. We will continue unifying voices for change and advocating for a more just future.

This year-end campaign has come at a critical time in our struggle for Palestine and against Islamophobia. Can we count on your contribution of $350? Help us reach our $100,000 goal before 2024!
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Together — with your support — we are building a better future for our children, – a future that allows them to wear their faith with pride, without fear of judgment, hatred, or ignorance. Together, we will shine light on truth and bring forth mercy, peace, and justice for our people and the world.
In service,

Salam Al-Marayati
President, MPAC

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Founded in 1988, the ** Muslim Public Affairs Council ([link removed])
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