On Tuesday, March 22, 2011, MPAC President Salam Al-Marayati and Civic Outreach Coordinator Saadia Khan joined about 200 people at a peaceful rally organized by the Villa Park Peace Coalition in Villa Park, CA.  Residents and interfaith leaders stood united to promote tolerance and peace and condemn a recent hate speech by Councilwoman Deborah Pauly, where she had called for the killing of Muslims.

Despite repeated calls for an apology during the City Council meeting which followed the rally, Pauly and her colleagues remained silent on the issue of hate speech. As a result, MPAC has now joined the Villa Park Peace Coalition in calling for Pauly’s resignation from office.

At the City Council meeting, many representatives and supporters of the Villa Park Peace Coalition expressed their concern over the divisiveness and environment of hate Pauly’s comments have created.

“Miss Pauly, you have failed as a political leader because of the divisiveness of your city,” Al-Marayati said during the public comment period. “I don’t know if you have been called a ‘terrorist’ or your children have been called a ‘terrorist’… What is worse is the vitriol I hear today by the people who drag my religion in the mud.”

SEE: Villa Park Councilwoman Targeted Over Anti-Muslim Rhetoric

SEE ALSO: Hundreds Turn Out to Condemn, Support Villa Park Councilwoman

The Villa Park Peace Coalition has vowed to attend every city council meeting until Pauly retracts her statement, publicly apologizes and tries to reconcile with the Villa Park constituents who were disrespected by her hate speech. 

Supporters  of the rally and the Coalition include Jewish Voices for Peace, Sts. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fairview Community Church, Brea United Methodist Church, the Council on American-Islamic Relations - Los Angeles, the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California and the Sikh Coalition.

-- Marium F. Mohiuddin (marium@mpac.org)
Communications Coordinator