Muslim Voices Needed in US Political System
By Sabiha Khan
Buena Park, CA: About 400 members of the Muslim American and Arab American communities came out to the Elections 2004 Town Hall Meeting held in Buena Park to hear from federal, state, and local candidates running in the primaries on March 2, 2004. The purpose of the event was to inform the community on the March 2nd California primaries and to motivate them to vote and become politically active.
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Paul Findley
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Linda Sanchez
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Loretta Sanchez
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Maher Hathout
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Hussam Ayloush
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Salam Al-Maryati
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The town hall meeting was co-organized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations - Southern California (CAIR-LA), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), American Muslim Alliance (AMA), Arab American Caucus-State Democratic Party, and the Arab American Republican Club of Orange County, and co-sponsored by dozens of groups including other Muslim, Iranian, Pakistani, Indian, and Arab-American organizations.
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Jo Chamberlain, National Co-Chair Green Party, addresses the meeting
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A section of the audience at the Town Hall Meeting
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Numerous candidates from the various local races told the community that their voices were greatly needed in our political system. They urged the community to continue playing an important role and to challenge attempts to exclude our community. With the exception of the Bush campaign, all major presidential campaigns were present, with representatives from the John Kerry, Dennis Kucinich, John Edwards, Howard Dean, and Green party campaigns. Mr. Ralph Nader, who had announced his candidacy on that day, called in to the meeting. Mr. Nader criticized the administration for misleading the American people into a senseless war with Iraq and eroding civil liberties with the Patriot Act. Representatives from state and local races from Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Orange Counties also spoke to the community. The many candidates from the various races included Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D- 47th), Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-39th), Assemblyman Lou Correa, Councilman Mark Leyes, assembly candidates Dave Silva and Kermit Marsh, Congressional candidates Cynthia Matthews, Vicki Johnson and Judge Jim Gray, and Mayor pro tem of Garden Grove, Van Tran.
Several leaders of the Muslim and Arab communities spoke at the event. Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR-LA, stressed the importance of why American Muslims and Arab Americans should vote. He listed the many reasons which include the slow economy, mistreatment of immigrants, erosion of civil rights and liberties, unchecked power of law enforcement and especially the disturbing close association of many of our political leaders with right-wing extremists who continually attack Islam and Muslims. He also stated that for many American Muslims and Arab Americans, our country’s foreign policy is a top and valid concern, especially the situation in Palestine and the unjust war on Iraq.
Dr. Maher Hathout, Chairman of MPAC, spoke on the newly formed American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT). The AMT is designed to encourage community-based Muslim political participation and to defend against the erosion of civil liberties in a post-9/11 social environment. Other community leaders speaking at the town hall meeting were Salam Al-Marayati (MPAC), Dr. Talat Khan (AMA), Tareef Nashashibi (Arab American Republican Club of OC), Rima Nashashibi (Arab American Caucus-State Democratic Party), Ban Al-Wardi (ADC-LA/OC), and Imam Saadiq Saafir (Ilm Foundation and Islamic Shura Council of Southern California).
“Our community felt a sense of belonging and truly a part of the American political process”, said Omar Zaki, Director of Governmental Relations for CAIR-LA. Zaki also applauded the sincerity and courage of public officials and candidates who attended the event and said, “It sent a clear message that marginalizing Muslims and Arabs is absolutely wrong and un-American.”
The evening ended with keynote speaker Mr. Paul Findley, former congressman and author, urging the community to learn from America’s history and never give up the struggle for peace and justice. He commended the collective work of the many groups that helped organize the successful event.