Dear John,

As we approach the 20th anniversary of the tragic attacks on 9/11, I would like to reflect on the repercussions of this moment, felt by millions around the world and especially by American Muslims. To address the various ways we have all been impacted, this week, MPAC engaged the government, media, and community leaders to explore the State of American Muslim Civic Life 20 Years After 9/11.
 

Yesterday, in an interview with NBC Los Angeles, I recalled the immediate aftermath of the attacks and the outpour of support the American Muslim community and I received from our fellow Americans who shielded us from the anti-Islam bigotry that rose from the ashes of 9/11.
 

This morning, I sat down for a conversation with the top counterterrorism official at the Department of Homeland Security, John D. Cohen. I’ve known John for many years and we were able to have a thoughtful and intimate discussion about how actions taken by our government impacted the lives of our community. He shared our belief that many of the steps taken and the techniques used to prevent a future attack actually did more harm and perpetuated discrimination. 

Given the importance of ensuring our message is received by lawmakers and the Biden Administration, I had an exclusive article published by The Hill.  A publication widely-read by members of Congress, their staff, and other decision-makers in Washington D.C., I’m thrilled to share with you that they have asked me to join as a part-time contributor. In the article, I address how the media portrayal of Muslims has overwhelmingly contributed to the rise of Islamophobia.

Read the full Op-Ed here. 

The past two decades have been a trial for American Muslims and should serve as a lesson learned for our lawmakers and the national security apparatus. It is for this very reason that we need to take this moment to reflect deeply on the impact of the 9/11 attacks and our reactive policies from the era. While as American Muslims, we have suffered at the hands of the surveillance state that emerged post-9/11, we have also been blessed by the immense support from our fellow Americans, made commendable strides in changing our own narrative, and carved out a space for ourselves in the political arena.

None of this is possible without your unwavering support.

 20 years from events that changed our nation, our lives, and our policies, it is more critical than ever that we counter fear-mongering and mass victimization to create positive change in perceptions, culture, and policy.

Help us continue this ongoing multi-generational effort with a tax deductible contribution today.

In service,

Salam Al-Marayati, MPAC President