December 5, 2007

Earlier this week, MPAC's Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati attended the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute's conference on "Law Enforcement and Civil Rights: Where Do We Go From Here?", where he met with national community leaders to determine strategies of collaboration.

Birmingham is the site of a 1963 church bombing by white supremacists which claimed the lives of four African American school girls, and was hailed as a turning point in the civil rights movement. No one was ever arrested or charged for the crime. Civil rights groups want to re-open the case, and seek the support of groups like MPAC in realizing justice in this case. Al-Marayati stressed that MPAC will work with all civil rights groups to redress the grievances of any and all Americans, and stressed its commitment to develop common fronts for justice.

Richard Cohen, President of the Southern Poverty Law Center, presented data about hate and racist groups in the U.S., and stressed that hate crimes are under-reported and rarely prosecuted. In his keynote address, FBI Executive Assistant Director Willie Hulon explained the process for investigating and prosecuting a hate crime, which requires a higher threshold than violent crimes in general. A hate crime is a violent crime motivated by the victim's ethnic, racial or religious background or perceived background as such.

In his speech to conference attendees, Al-Marayati discussed the demographics and priorities of the Muslim American community, and also explained the distinctions between European and American Muslim populations. He cited upholding civil rights for all Americans and preventing social isolation as a priority for Muslim Americans.

During MPAC's upcoming 7th annual convention on Saturday, December 15, 2007, the issue of balancing civil rights and national security will be tackled during a panel discussion featuring experts from the National Association of Muslim Lawyers, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Department of Homeland Security. Click here to view the full program and purchase your tickets today.

Since January, MPAC's "Truth Over Fear: Countering Islamophobia" campaign has provided more than 5,000 people in a dozen states with hands-on training in identifying Islamophobia, promoting mutual understanding, and responding to intolerance and hate. Al-Marayati presented a copy of MPAC's "Truth Over Fear" educational video, which explores the roots of Islamophobia in American society and its everyday impact, to the Institute's library.