February 13, 2015

Update: President Obama released a statement calling the murders "brutal and outrageous," and that "no one in the United States of America should ever be targeted because of who they are, what they look like, or how they worship."

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Dear Friend,

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) today called on President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and the leadership of both parties in Congress to publicly address the tragedy in Chapel Hill.

Last night, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that they would pursue “a parallel preliminary inquiry to determine whether or not any federal laws were violated related to the case." Now that the FBI has weighed in and expressed concern over the nature of the case, it is time for our nation's leaders to step up and reassure the American Muslim community that their concerns are being heard and are taken seriously.

The killing of the three young American Muslims has galvanized national and international sentiment and has once again brought the issue of anti-Muslim sentiment to the forefront of America's conscience.

Last week in a meeting with President Obama, American Muslim leaders brought up the issue of the toxic rhetoric which so many times accompanies conversations around national security and violent extremism. Now is the time for our national political leaders to stand up and address this issue head on.

ACTION ALERT

Call your Member of Congress and ask them to make a statement on the floor of the House and Senate about the tragedy in Chapel Hill. To find your member of Congress, click here. To find your two Senators, click here.

Sincerely,

Haris Tarin

Director of the Washington, DC, Office