The Essential Role of Engagement in Achieving Justice and Representation

An ongoing debate exists among American Muslims and their representative institutions regarding the ethical boundaries and political consequences of engaging with government at local, state, and federal levels. Many argue that due to the political consequences, Muslims cannot afford to sit on the sidelines of formal politics. Conversely, others are…

President Biden’s Withdrawal: A Turning Point for American Democracy and the Democratic Party

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On July 21, 2024 By MPAC

Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | July 21, 2024 — President Biden’s decision to end his campaign for re-election is a testament to the resilience of American democracy. Despite its flaws, our political system continues to ensure that the will of the people is heard. As the Democratic Party pivots to…

An Inflection Point for American Democracy

On July 15, 2024 By MPAC

Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | July 15, 2024 — The recent attempted assassination of former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump represents a critical juncture for American democracy and the upcoming 2024 election. This incident underscores the urgent need for policymakers to address several key issues: Violence in Politics:…

Reflections on State of the Union Address

On February 8, 2023 By MPAC

Democracy forms the backbone of our country. For many, participation comes in the form of voting, but our system requires far more than that. To be a fully functional system of governance, the constituents must be engaged and involved in the civic process on a regular basis. The largest obstacle…

Dr. King’s Legacy of Faith in Action

martin luther king jr

On February 1, 2023 By MPAC

By: Isra Qadri and Qudsia Saeed | MPAC Policy Interns Black History Month is a call to honor the many African Americans who have pushed, and continue to push, for an equal and just nation. Without their resiliency, progress would be lost. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. unequivocally transformed American…

Statement: The Modi Question, Democracy and Dissent in India

On January 28, 2023 By nader

Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | January 28, 2023 — The Modi government’s blocking of BBC’s new documentary on the 2002 Anti-Muslim Gujarat Riots is another move in an increasingly troublesome pattern of stifling of dissent in India. The documentary, “India: The Modi Question,” revealed the previously undisclosed findings of a…

Democracy Forum Chicago: Protecting America’s Democracy in the Age of Political Extremism

On September 22, 2022 By MPAC

The January 6 Committee (“J6”) hearings have highlighted to the world just how close the insurrectionists came to disrupting the peaceful transfer of presidential power in our country. Most importantly, the J6 Committee’s work has brought attention to the fact that there is a significant group of people in America (including many elected public officials) who favor authoritarianism over democracy and racism over the guarantees of equal protection for all under our Constitution. On this 21st anniversary of 9/11, we are reminded that the gravest threat facing America today is not from an external enemy, but from within. J6 Committee Chair Bennie Thompson has stated that "January 6th and the lies that led to insurrection have put two and a half centuries of constitutional democracy at risk.” In addition, Illinois’ Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger was recently quoted in a PBS FRONTLINE interview as saying when you: “Look at a lot of failed democracies or struggling democracies . . . You see politics that’s about vindictiveness or about power or about violating the law. . . . We need truth; we need to get back to the basic commitment to democratic norms. That’s what’s at stake at this moment.” Indeed America’s survival as a democracy is itself at stake at this moment. We gathered for an important conversation on the 21st anniversary of 9/11, as our expert panelists discussed their thoughts, ideas and recommendations on how all of us together can once again secure our country’s future as a functioning and vibrant democracy in this age of domestic political extremism. ---------- Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.