Emgage, in partnership with the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), is thrilled to announce the attendance of Senator Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julián Castro at the ISNA Presidential Forum - marking the first appearance of a presidential candidate in recent memory before a largely Muslim crowd.
Read the Houston Chronicle's coverage of the ISNA Presidential Forum
Muslims have been a part of the American fabric for centuries. From business owners to civil society activists to members of our armed forces - Muslim Americans have been a part of the American dream. Over the course of the past few decades, however, our voices have been drowned out in a wave of Islamophobic rhetoric. Muslim Americans have found themselves at a crossroads - working to counter hateful rhetoric, while having our loyalties unjustly questioned.
There are 4-5 million Muslims in the United States, with at least 100 American Muslims who ran for public office during the midterm elections. Emgage also found that voting by Muslim Americans went up by 25% from 2014 to 2018 in four key states: Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia. This is why we believe that engaging Muslim American voters IS the future of American politics, making this attendance by the candidates at ISNA a momentous occasion! We are proud to welcome them for a dialogue about inclusion, equity, and how to counter dangerous rhetoric against our minority communities. Please Join us!
“Our community is paying attention to how politicians engage with us, and is differentiating between those who say that they stand for religious freedom, and those who back it up with actions. Attending this event and speaking directly to our community in these critical times is a perfect example of the latter.” - Wa’el Alzayat
Register for ISNA Convention on August 31, in Houston, Texas
Read the Chicago Tribune's coverage on Emgage's work to engage Muslim Americans
