October 31, 2008

In Dayton, Ohio, a 16-year old Muslim American high school student who is too young to vote spends his afternoons volunteering to make calls for the Obama campaign. In Manassas, Virginia, a Muslim American college student mobilizes voters as a founder of College Republicans on her campus. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a Bengali Muslim spends his weekends emphasizing the importance of the Muslim vote at community forums, while he himself is ineligible to vote.

Such commitment, involvement and energy embody the Muslim American sprit. All across the country, Muslim Americans from all walks of life have found ways, large and small, to play a part in shaping the future of our country by working to candidates elected.

Undoubtedly, these are historical times for our country. With an ever-expanding economic meltdown, and the country tied down on two fronts in Iraq and Afghanistan, we have witness the birth of an unprecedented urgency across the nation.

Thomas Jefferson so eloquently declared that the informed citizen is the bedrock of a dynamic democracy. Since the beginning of this election cycle, MPAC staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to inform the Muslim communities around the country on the critical choices that lie ahead.

In our travels throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois and California, we have been inspired by the ways in which this unprecedented election has awakened the civic conscience of the Muslim American community.

As part of our "Rock the Muslim Vote" campaign, MPAC staff and volunteers have called to remind thousands of Muslim Americans to vote in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, we have organized over 30 election townhall forums across the country addressing to introduce candidates to our communities and discuss issues ranging form civil rights and national security to healthcare and the economy, and we have distributed thousands of copies of our "Activate 08 Voter's Guide to the Presidential Election."

In four days, we may see the highest level of voter participation in U.S. history. What we know for sure from our work around the country in recent months is that Muslim Americans will vote in record numbers.

The Muslim American community just might have the numbers to tip a tight election in this race, and could be the deciding factor in swing states which might very well determine the next president of the Unites States.

Make your voice heard. Make your vote count.

Vote on Tuesday, November 4th and make a commitment to stay politically and civically engaged no matter the outcome.