On September 8, American Muslim groups expressed deep concerns over a slew of Islamophobic and Anti-Semitic social media posts by Dallas area physician, Michael Robles. Dr. Robles is a physician who works at American Pathology Partners (AP2) and Alliance Diagnostics. He posts regularly on Jihad Watch, a hate website run by notorious anti-Muslim bigot, Robert Spencer. His posts include: (1) "The hard hearted and stiff-necked Jews do not believe in the Holy Trinity. They believe in a different god. Their rejection begins from the beginning they will suffer, see Amos. They are antichrist. They follow the evil one." (2) "Islam false god false prophet false Quran false Christ - Islam is the anti-Christ, born from deception and follows Satan. Pure death and lies in Islam." (3) "Never trust a Muslim who actively practices and follows the Quran."
In short, 19 years after 9/11 terrorist attacks, American Muslims remain on the receiving end.
American Muslim outreach
Indigenous Peoples' Day Welcomed: American Muslim groups welcomed a move by the Howard County to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous People's Day. The October holiday has been swapped out in order to honor indigenous peoples' history and culture. Many states have made similar moves, and CAIR is urging other counties across Maryland to take the moral decision to also adopt Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Removal of N.C. Confederate Monument: American Muslim groups have welcomed the removal of a Confederate Monument in North Carolina and Mississippi. In Asheville, N.C., a board of commissioners in December voted 7-0 to remove a stone pillar honoring a slave owning Civil War officer. The death of George Floyd put a spotlight on the monument which is erected in the highly populated Asheville square. In Mississippi, the Harrison County Board of Supervisors will vote on whether to remove the Confederate monument that has stood outside the county courthouse since 1911. The issue has been debated since June, resulting in two protests.
Notes
1. This data was released on December 2 by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, Jetpac, a representation-driven organization that trains American Muslims who want to run for office, and MPower Change, the largest Muslim-led social and racial justice organization in the United States.
2. In a bid to attract the American Muslim vote, Joe Biden, Democratic Presidential nominee Joe appointed a Senior Advisor for Muslim Engagement on his presidential campaign and issued a special paper saying "Muslim-Americans are essential to the American fabric, and working with Muslim-American communities is critical to ensuring that Muslim-Americans are uplifted and empowered, and that their issues of concern are addressed within our democracy." Muslim-Americans are a diverse, vibrant part of the United States, making invaluable cultural and economic contributions to communities all across the nation. But they also face real challenges and threats in our society, including racially-motivated violence and Islamophobia. Joe Biden pledged to work closely with Muslim-Americans to address the needs and legitimate concerns of the Muslim-American community. As President, he will: protect Muslim-American constitutional and civil rights; honor the diversity of Muslim-American communities; ensure adequate healthcare; create a safe learning environment; rebuild our economy with a more resilient, more inclusive middle class; and make communities safer.
3. The first 100 days agenda, with 35 recommendations, was drafted by a member organization of USCMO, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The USCMO was founded in 2014 in Washington by eight prominent Muslim organizations: the American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), the Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), and Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed (The Mosque Cares). Later 25 another Muslim organizations joined the umbrella organization to unify the approach, agenda and vision of the Muslim community.
4. In December, Michael Hari, 49, from Illinois has been found guilty of all five counts in connection to the 2017 bombing of a Bloomington mosque in Minnesota. On Aug. 5, 2017, Hari, Joe Morris and Michael McWhorter allegedly carried out the attack as several men gathered for early morning prayers at the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center. The device exploded in the imam's office, and while no one was hurt in bombing. Hari is the leader of an anti-government militia group called the White Rabbits based in Clarence, Ill., a rural community about 120 miles south of Chicago, Ill.
5. Furthermore, nearly 30% of Muslim students surveyed reported harassment or discrimination due to their advocacy on issues related to their Muslim identity. The survey results highlight that Muslim students who engaged in political advocacy on behalf of Palestinian issues were subjected to egregious and persistent forms of harassment and discrimination. Muslim students also reported high levels of discomfort in various campus settings and limitations to their ability to express themselves on issues related to their religious identity. These survey findings show that while Muslim students have become more visible on campuses, they are still subjected to pervasive stereotypes, microaggressions, harassment, and discrimination due to their religious identity or political advocacy. [CAIR]
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