Stop Islamophobia in America: A Call to Fight Against Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Bigotry
A Call to Fight Against Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Bigotry
“They divided both to conquer each” – Frederick Douglass
We are faced with a crisis of racism and bigotry which is being whipped into a frenzy by demagogues in society who are targeting marginalized communities so as to divide and conquer the rest of us. Those groups being unjustly vilified and harassed in the context of the “global war on terror” are members of the Muslim and Arab communities.
Across this country, mosques, Islamic cultural centers and individual Muslims are all under attack. Fox News pundit Glenn Beck has called for a “militia day” to protest the 10th annual Muslim Family Day at Six Flags Amusement Park, a clear threatening gesture. In Bridgeport, CT protesters confronted worshipers at the Fairfield Avenue mosque with such open, and enlightened placards as “Islam is a Lie”. A church in Gainesville, FL is building for an “International Burn a Quran Day” to mark the 9th anniversary of 9/11. Internationally anti-minaret and anti-Burqa laws have or will be passing soon in Switzerland and France respectively. In New York City the proposed construction of a Islamic Cultural Center near ground zero has erupted a firestorm of incendiary racism against the Muslim community.
Islamophobia is on the rise in the United States. We as a community need to stand against this, for these bigots can only feel emboldened and confident when they are not confronted. An injury to one is an injury to all, and an attack on one group opens the door for an attack on all. The rights to freedom of religion, expression and to worship where you choose must be indisputable, absolute and universal if we are to live in a truly free society. That the personal religious and moral beliefs of an individual are their own business and are not to be subject outside coercion. We need to support a multi-cultural society open to people of all faiths and creeds.
For these reasons we are calling on people to stand with us and the Muslim community in exposing the racism of the opposition and confronting Islamophobia and all bigotries wherever they may emerge. We wish to build a broad coalition of anti-racists from all faiths, ethnicities, races and political backgrounds in this fight against Islamophobia and for freedom of religion.
We plan to confront these bigots and racists wherever and whenever they gather to denounce Islam and spew hatred towards Muslims. If you are a person of conscience and agree to stand with those being targeted, join our coalition, participate in organizing meetings, rallies, protests and boycotts whenever possible.
Join our listserve at: coalitiontostopislamophobia@gmail.com
Sign our petition at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/csia/
Let us stand united against hatred!
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