Issue 70: Friday, 25 March 2022

THIS WEEK IN DC— U.S. And EU Pledge To Seek New Gas Supplies To Displace Russia; Manchin Ready To Vote 'Yes' On Jackson's SCOTUS Nomination; Biden Arrives In Poland As Ukraine Gains Ground; Justice Clarence Thomas Released From Hospital After Week-Long Stay; Biden To Meet With Ukrainian Refugees In Poland; Supreme Court Judge's Wife Urged Election Overturn; U.S. Accuses Four Russians Of Hacking Infrastructure; Including Nuclear Plant; U.S. Will Welcome Up To 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees; Senate Judiciary Holds Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings.

IN THIS ISSUE

Featured Issue: Remembering the Legacy of Khadijah this Women’s History Month
MPAC Joins Coalition in Support of H.R. 350, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act

Remembering the Legacy of Khadijah this Women’s History Month

Shattering the Glass Ceiling Since the 6th Century: Khadijah bint Khuwaylid
By: Prema Rahman, MPAC Policy Analyst

As we approach the final days of Women’s History Month, it is only timely to remember the legacy of Khadijah bint Khuwaylid. Most of us know her as the first wife of Prophet Muhammad, but she was so much more than that. To this day, she remains an inspiration for Muslim women worldwide. And for good reason.

Born in 6th century CE, in a heavily patriarchal era when women had little to no rights and equality, Khadijah inherited her father’s wealth and went on to become a successful businesswoman. She became known widely for her astute and independent nature, earning a reputation as a fair and just dealer of high-quality goods.

A twice widowed Khadijah proposed marriage to her then-employee Prophet Muhammad, who was, according to many sources, about ten to fifteen years younger than her and remained his only wife until her passing...

Read full article →

MPAC Joins Coalition in Support of H.R. 350, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act

MPAC fully supports the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (DTPA), which authorizes the domestic terrorism components within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to not only monitor, analyze, investigate, and prosecute domestic terrorism, but also issue joint reports and review anti-terrorism training programs offered by those agencies to federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. We also continue to oppose the addition of a domestic terrorism statute.

That is why last week, we joined the Leadership Conference on Human and Civil Rights and a wide coalition of advocacy organizations in a coalition letter to the House Judiciary Committee to support the DTPA and oppose any harmful amendments to the legislation.

Read the letter→

GOOD TO KNOW

U.S. formally declares Myanmar army committed genocide against Rohingya
‘You are worthy’: Sen. Booker draws tears at Jackson hearing
Muslim Americans sue DHS over "unconstitutional" religious questioning
People of color helped Hollywood through another pandemic year, a new study says
DOJ sues Texas county alleging discriminatory redistricting plan

- THIS WEEK IN HISTORY -

Mar 20, 1739 - Iranian ruler Nadir Shah occupies Delhi in India and sacks the city, stealing the jewels of the Peacock Throne; Mar 21, 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem; Mar 22, 1945 - Arab League forms with adoption of a charter in Cairo, Egypt; Mar 23, 1980 - Deposed Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi arrives in Egypt; Mar 24, 1401 - Timur attacks city of Damascus, second city of the Mameluke Empire. Though scholar and negotiator Ibn Khaldūn's life spared, the city is sacked and the Umayyad Mosque destroyed; Mar 25, 1969 - Pakistan General Agha Mohammed Jagja Khan succeeds Ayub Chan as president; Mar 26, 1909 - In support of Mohammed Ali Shah's coup d'etat against the constitutional government in Persia, a Russian military force invades northern Persia to relieve the siege of Tabriz.

Mar 20, 1774 - The British parliament passes first of the Intolerable Acts: the Boston Port Act, which closed Boston harbor until colonists would pay for damages following the Boston Tea Party; Mar 20, 1852 - Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" published in Boston; Mar 21, 1868 - First US professional women's club, Sorosis, forms in NYC; Mar 21, 1947 - US President Harry Truman signs Executive Order 9835 requiring all federal employees to have allegiance to the United States; Mar 22, 1767 - Stamp Act passed; First direct British tax on American colonists, organized by Prime Minister George Grenville; Mar 22, 1790 - Thomas Jefferson becomes the first US Secretary of State under President Washington; Mar 23, 1775 - Patrick Henry proclaims "Give me liberty or give me death" in speech in favor of Virginian troops joining US Revolutionary war; Mar 23, 1929 - First telephone installed at the President’s desk under the Hoover administration at the White House; Mar 24, 1853 - Anti-slavery newspaper "The Provincial Freeman" first published in Windsor, Ontario, edited by Samuel Ringgold Ward and Mary Ann Shadd Cary, first black woman publisher in North America; Mar 24, 1942 - US government begins moving native-born citizens with Japanese ancestry into detention centers under Executive Order 9066, with intention of preventing home-grown espionage; Mar 25, 1919 - Woodrow Wilson's dream of a League of Nations becomes a reality after the League Covenant is adopted at the Paris Peace Conference; Mar 25, 1965 - Martin Luther King Jr. leads 25,000 to state Capitol in Montgomery, Alabama; Mar 26, 1951 - United States Air Force flag officially adopted by President Harry S. Truman; Mar 26, 1953 - Dr. Jonas Salk announces that he has successfully tested a vaccine to prevent polio, clinical trials began the next year.

Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council improves public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Our policy analysts provide insight from D.C. to the palm of your hand on the most pressing issues impacting American Muslims. Email is an important way for us to communicate with supporters like you. Should you want to stop hearing from us or change your preferences, click here to update your contact info or unsubscribe.

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