July 28, 2017

Op-Eds

Boycott, divestment and sanctions of free speech (Jewish Journal)

By Salam Al-Marayati, President: "But this bill follows a disturbing pattern of the double standard that is applied to nonviolent protests by marginalized communities. Many on the right (and even some on the left) have criticized the Black Lives Matter movement as “violent,” suggesting that nonviolent protests would be more palatable to get their point across. Yet when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is African-American, knelt during the national anthem, he was criticized for being “combative” and “unpatriotic.” Likewise, the BDS movement is entirely peaceful, noncombative and (one could argue because it uses capital to achieve its goals) a most American form of protest. But by targeting these forms of expression, the Senate is leaving those who support the movement few options for lawful dissent."

Don't Ignore All Forms of Extremism (HuffPost)

By Salam Al-Marayati, President, and Sammy Rangel, Executive Director of Life After Hate: "Yesterday, the House Subcommittee on National Security held a hearing on Combating Homegrown Terrorism. As Americans, we believe in a secure nation where all communities feel safe and protected. However, the makeup and remarks of the hearing, combined with the multiple actions the current administration has taken since day one, give us great pause for concern."

Quotes & Mentions

Islam and America: Trump's Religious Freedom Ambassador Should Be 'Disqualified", Says Biggest Muslim Group (Newsweek)

Ilhan Cagri, Religious Freedom Fellow, quoted: The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), an NGO that has opposed President Trump’s proposed travel ban, says that it is “cautious of supporting” of Brownback. “While he has done a great deal to advance religious freedom on a whole as a policy issue in government, we hope that he will not prioritize protecting the rights of one religious minority over another,” says Ilhan Cagri, religious freedom fellow at MPAC.

Moving & Shaking: Nazarians at CSUN, Pico Union Project’s Ultimate Shabbat, Bet Tzedek’s Justice Ball (The Jewish Journal)

Edina Lekovic, Public Affairs Consultant, mentioned: The 170 attendees at the benefit included Rabbi Deborah Schuldenfrei, DeLet Education Director at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and her husband, Rabbi Brian Schuldenfrei, spiritual leader of Congregation Ner Tamid of South Bay; the Rev. Najuma Smith-Pollard, program manager of the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement; Rabbi Scott Westle, rabbi-in-residence at Abraham Joshua Heschel Day School; and Edina Lekovic, public affairs consultant at the Muslim Public Affairs Council.