October 14, 2008

Boston Election Forum

Last weekend, the Muslim Public Affairs Council took part in three election townhall forums on the East and West Coasts in an effort to educate Muslim American voters on key issues.

The forums also allowed attendees the opportunity to engage with candidates running for local, state, and national offices as well as representatives from the presidential campaigns about pressing issues facing our country.

Nearly 100 Bostonians came out to the Islamic Center of Wayland on Sunday, where Dr. Adil Najam, Frederick S. Pardee Professor for Global Public Policy at Boston University moderated this first-ever voter education forum. Dr. Najam earned a share of the Nobel Peace Price with former Vice President Al Gore in 2007 and other scientists on an international climate change council. Najam is also a go-to expert on the Muslim world for NPR, CNN, and other news outlets.

Government Relations Director Safiya Ghori-Ahmad and Community Development Director Haris Tarin also led a discussion about the six issues featured in MPAC's "Activate '08 Voter Guide" to the 2008 election. These issues include national security and civil rights, healthcare, the economy, the Iraq war, immigration, and U.S.-Muslim world relations.

More than 125 people joined the San Diego chapters of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim American Society on Saturday for an Election Forum, which featured 10 candidates running for school board, city council, and Congress.

Representatives from Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama's campaigns also discussed their stances on core issues of concern to Muslim voters. MPAC Communications Director Edina Lekovic served as a moderator for the event.

MANASSAS, VA

About 100 people attended this election forum hosted by the Muslim Association of Virginia and co-sponsored by MPAC and the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations. Three Congressional, and two state and local candidates participated in a lively exchange of ideas with voters on Saturday.

Moderating the discussion were MPAC Foundation Vice Chairman Dr. Hassan Ibrahim and MPAC Government Relations Director Safiya Ghori-Ahmad.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO REGISTER!

MPAC encourages all voters to make their voice heard on Tuesday, November 4 by casting their ballot on Election Day or by requesting and submitting an absentee ballot to their state board of elections.

Click here to locate and contact the Office of the Registrar in your state.