As our nation faces a renewed surge of Islamophobia following the tragic events of October 7th, we find ourselves witnessing a disturbing rise in hate crimes, threats, and violence. American Muslims are, once again, being scapegoated for the actions of extremists, echoing the distressing aftermath of 9/11. This harsh reality underscores the urgency of our work now more than ever.
In challenging anti-Muslim hate, we partnered with LA vs. Hate to host our Ballots Against Bias Symposium last week at the Fowler Museum at UCLA.
This event featured guest speaker Josh Paul, who resigned from the State Department in 2023 due to his opposition of the Biden Administration's rush of lethal military assistance to Israel. Josh joined MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati in discussion on the intersection of national security and anti-Muslim animus, and shared his expertise on U.S. defense diplomacy and security sector reform.
Also joining the panel was Samar Ali, a research professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University, who discussed paths to reform that align national security priorities with justice for all Americans.
The symposium also included a civic engagement panel led by Sue Obeidi, MPAC's Senior Vice President of Hollywood Bureau, which was focused on the art of building powerful narratives to counter misinformation and hate crimes. Our panelists offered valuable insights and practical steps for meaningful engagement in today's complex landscape.
We also held a student freedom panel which explored the defense of free speech on campus. Our panelists discussed how to protect the civil liberties and rights of students to free speech and assembly, and ensure university administrators uphold academic integrity in American educational institutions.
These discussions aimed to educate and empower the public to challenge anti-Muslim hate, shift harmful narratives, and combat hate-fueled violence while addressing the root causes of Islamophobia that threaten our civil liberties.
“Many who have good intentions will claim expertise in times of crisis, but it’s those who serve as institutions that carry a community through the storm.
MPAC has served as a voice of reason and justice for decades. It’s leadership like ours that lifts up new voices, and fills the void when inexperience leads many to falter.”
We thank all who joined us for this critical event and are grateful for your support which makes these events possible as we work to reduce discrimination and violence against our community.
In gratitude,
Rebecca Husaini
MPAC Vice President of Operations and Administration
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