Issue 74: Friday, 22 April 2022

The last 10 days are the most sacred time for our community. And Jummah (Friday) is an especially blessed day. That's why this week, we are launching our Jummah to Jummah campaign to raise funds for our work in DC and Hollywood. With your support, we can reach our goal of $50,000 by next Friday and help fund programs like our Congressional Leadership Development Program and the Mustard Seed Project. In these last days of Ramadan, please give what you can. Thank you!

Donate

THIS WEEK IN DC— Biden Announces $800M In Security Assistance, $500M In Economic Aid To Ukraine; DOJ To Appeal Travel Mask Mandate Ruling After CDC Says Masks Still Needed On Public Transportation; CDC Issues Health Advisory About Acute Hepatitis In Children; Vice President Kamala Harris Selects New Chief Of Staff As Top Aide Departs White House; Democrats Ramp Up Investigation Into Impact Of Disinformation On Elections; Donald Trump Jr. Plans To Meet With Jan. 6 Committee; Jan. 6 Panel Considers Changes To Insurrection Act; Russia Slaps Travel Ban On Kamala Harris, 28 Other U.S. Officials, Businesspeople; Biden Announces Five New Nominees For US Attorneys; Supreme Court Rules Puerto Ricans Don't Have Constitutional Right To Some Federal Benefits.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Featured Issue: The Challenge of Equitable Democracy in the Age of Dis- and Misinformation
Join us for the inaugural National American Muslim Policy Conference
Join us for the 30th Annual MPAC Media Awards
Applications are open for our Summer Internship program

The Challenge of Equitable Democracy in the Age of Dis- and Misinformation

By: Prema Rahman, MPAC Policy Analyst

Image credit: SÉBASTIEN THIBAULT via Science

Disinformation seems to be the buzzword of the week. Over the last few days, the term has appeared on our news feeds across a number of media outlets, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. But disinformation, or, the deliberate falsification of information, is far more than just a buzzword.

Together with its companion misinformation, which refers to false information that is presented as factual, disinformation is one of the most formidable challenges to our democracy today...

Read full article →

Join us for the Inaugural National American Muslim Policy Conference

We are proud to announce that we're co-hosting the inaugural National American Muslim Policy Conference on Tuesday, June 7. This joint initiative will bring together elected officials, experts, and leaders from across the nation to discuss our community's policy priorities and needs. We are proud to be working alongside American Muslim Health Professionals, Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition, and Emgage Action.

Our hope with this conference is to underscore the power of our collective impact to uplift the American Muslim voice and provide meaningful solutions to the complex issues our communities face.

Register for virtual event →

Join us for the 30th Annual MPAC Media Awards

We’re very excited to share the first five honorees of the 30th annual #MPACMediaAwards. Join us Sunday, June 26th as we recognize Americanish, I’ll Meet You There, Mira, Royal Detective, United States of Al, and We are Lady Parts. More honorees to come!

For 30 years, we have honored people and projects in the entertainment industry who use their craft to create authentic portrayals of Muslims, promote social justice, and inspire action.

Due to COVID precautions, this year’s Media Awards will be live-streamed.

RSVP for virtual event →

Applications are open for our Summer Internship program

Are you looking for a summer internship opportunity? Be immersed in the world of government, media, academia, non-profit and the private sector and get valuable opportunities to work on substantive issues with our Summer internship program. MPAC interns are presented with exciting opportunities to do real work and complete substantive assignments with personal guidance and hands-on training.

Applications are now open— Share this opportunity with your family and friends!

Learn more and apply→

GOOD TO KNOW

Rashad Hussain, first Muslim Religious Freedom Ambassador, l ays out US agenda
Michigan’s first Arab-American Solicitor General w ins historic SCOTUS argument
Former C.I.A.-run prison e merges as a new front in Guantánamo’s legal saga
FDA could a uthorize Covid shots for children under 5 In June
SOCAL: Don't m iss this seminar brought to you by Civic Genius on online misinformation and free speech happening April 30

- THIS WEEK IN HISTORY -

April 17, 1971 - Egypt, Libya & Syria form federation (FAR); April 23, 1920 - Turkish Grand National Assembly first meets in Ankara, denounces the government of Sultan Mehmed VI and announces a temporary constitution; April 23, 1925 - Having badly defeated Spain and driven her out of Spanish Morocco, the native Riffi, led by Abd-el-Krim, turn on the French in French Morocco; April 23, 1989 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar plays his last game as a Laker.

April 17, 1905 - US Supreme Court judges maximum workday unconstitutional in Lochner v. New York by declaring the "right to free contract" implicit in the due process clause of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution; April 17, 1993 - Two Los Angeles police officers convicted in federal court of violating Rodney King's civil rights and sentenced to prison, while two others are acquitted; April 18, 1775 - Paul Revere and William Dawes ride from Charlestown to Lexington warning the "Regulars are coming!"; April 18, 1783 - Fighting ceases in the American Revolution; April 18, 1906 - San Francisco earthquake and fire kills nearly 4,000 while destroying 75% of the city; April 19, 1775 - American Revolution begins in Lexington, MA. The "Shot Heard Round the World" took place in Concord later that day; April 19, 1782 - John Adams secures Dutch Republic's recognition of the US as an independent government and house he purchased in The Hague becomes first American embassy; April 19, 1989 - Central Park Five: Violent rape of jogger in NYC's Central Park became one of the most widely publicized crimes of the 1980s. 5 men wrongfully convicted spend between 6-13 years in prison; April 19, 1994 - Rodney King awarded $3,800,000 compensation by the LA County for his police beating; April 19, 1995 - Oklahoma City bombing, Timothy McVeigh sets a truck bomb at Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 and injuring 500; April 20, 1971 - US Supreme Court upholds use of busing to achieve racial desegregation; April 20, 1999 - Columbine High School massacre: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold kill 13 people and injure 24 others at Columbine High School, CO.

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.

Your support makes our work possible!

View online here.

Donate

If you would like to make a donation to MPAC today, please donate here.