Muslims for Social Justice Newsletter - First Edition

Check out the first edition of Muslims for Social Justice newsletter titled Muslim Worker. This newsletter features stories about Muslims for Social Justice, refugee resettlement efforts in the Triangle Area of North Carolina, a profile of North Carolina Muslim leader - Mother Margaret Rose Murray, and other information.

Click to enlarge size. Contact us at info@MuslimsForSocialJustice.org for questions and stories.

Forces of Peace and Justice Respond to KKK

(This article was originally published by Imagine 2050 blog).

Soon after the 2016 election, the Loyal White Knights, a Ku Klux Klan chapter in the rural town Pelham, NC, announced a rally in North Carolina to celebrate Donald Trump’s victory. They decided the victory parade would take place on December 3rd in North Carolina, but did not announce the exact location.

Witness to the increased demonizing and dehumanizing of Muslims, immigrants, women, disabled, working people and other marginalized communities and alarmed by the spike in hate crimes across the country, people throughout North Carolina came together in response to this rally and to protect each other and build their unity.

A coalition of 20 organizations, the Triangle Unity May Day Coalition, organized the anti-KKK rally in Raleigh, NC, held on the same day of the KKK rally.  This action was led by Black, Brown, Muslim, workers and others, most impacted by hatred and bigotry.

                                           Picture by Matthew Lenard

The rally brought together more than 1,000 people on a bitter cold day. Speakers represented such grassroots organizations like Black Workers for Justice, UE Local 150, Muslims for Social Justice, Movement to End Racism and Islamophobia, Fight for $15, Organize 2020, Durham Artists Movement and many others. Allies from Jewish Voice for Peace – Triangle, Carolina Jews for Justice and Triangle SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) also spoke at the rally.

                                                            Picture by Matthew Lenard

This rally rejuvenated peace and justice-loving folks in North Carolina. There was a resolve to build a stronger intersectional movement, especially during the next four years of the Trump administration. Participants agreed that we cannot afford to simply have spontaneous actions in response to a crisis, but need to channel the energy exhibited during the anti-KKK rally into efforts to build an long-term movement.
 

                                           Picture by Matthew Lenard

Picture by Yolanda Carrington

Based on this recognition, a long-term grassroots coalition, called Triangle People’s Assembly, was launched on the following day in Raleigh, NC. Many participants from Saturday’s anti-KKK actions throughout the state attended the People’s Assembly. Participants discussed lessons from the anti-KKK rally and explored future organizing questions.  Several people expressed the need to learn more about anti-Muslim bigotry and how to become effective allies to the impacted communities.

The movement against anti-Muslim bigotry, racism and all forms of oppression will be a long and often an arduous journey. Many hope that the anti-KKK rally and subsequent launch of the Triangle People’s Assembly will provide the support and tools for that journey in North Carolina.  

MAPAC Holds Candidates Meetings and Distributes Candidates Endorsments

MAPAC - The Muslim American Public Affairs Council, of which I am a member held one Candidate Town Hall Meeting in Durham on September 26, 2016 in association with Jamaat Ibad Ar-Rahman Mosque at the Parkwood Facility located at  5522 Revere Road in Durham, and three other Candidate Town Hall Meetings where held in Wake County during the month of October 2016. One at the Apex Mosque, another at IAR and the last one at As Salaam Islamic Center. The purpose of these Town Hall Meetings is to give candidates an opportunity to share  their views with the Muslim voters of Wake and Durham Counties, and the Muslim Community, in turn, had an opportunity to ask questions of the candidates and share their concerns. MAPAC Board members conducted evaluations of the candidates and then created a slate of endorsed candidates  which is available to the local Muslim Community.

A major concern for Muslims in North Carolina and other areas of the United States at present is Islamophobia. The media and anti-Muslim politicians are major drivers of this bigotry towards Islam. Islamophobia is tied to terror attacks at home and abroad and  fueled by the cable TV 24 hour spin machine and has created this unjustified hatred of Islam in the West. Trying to blame all terror attacks on Muslims who make up approximately 1.7 billion people from practically every country on the planet is a stretch a very long and unreasonable stretch. Do Americans show hatred and bigotry toward Christians because of the terrorist acts of  a White Supremacist group? Of course, they don't so you can see an apparent double standard when it comes to all Muslims being tied to a group like ISIS.

I recently watched a PBS Frontline documentary called "Confronting ISIS". It showed that much of the United States and the West reliance on combating ISIS is actually done by Muslims and Islamic Countries. Yet do to all of the negative propaganda in the media attacks against Muslims and Mosques is on the rise. Sisters wearing hijab have been attacked. School age children have been bullied and attacked at school. Muslims parents are correct to be concerned and they shared those concerns with Candidates for the Wake County School Board at a recent town hall meeting held at As Salaam Islamic Center in Southeast Raleigh, NC. School board candidates reassured attendees that they are aware of the negative attitudes towards Muslims, and they understand that in their roles they must protect students, be inclusive and support cultural diversity.

The county and the state of North Carolina are deeply divided between Republicans and Democrats as to who should be the next President of the United States. Many Women and Democrats are hopeful that Hilary Clinton will become the first Woman President in US History. Democrats are hopeful to turn North Carolina back into a Blue State and turn the US Senate back over to the Democrats with a win by Democrats like Deborah Ross. Muslims are hopeful that whoever gains and advantage will not continue the anti-Muslim devise rhetoric. It is for this reason that Muslims all over the country should get out and vote today Election Day! Stay Tuned!

James"Munir"Perry

Legacy of Workmen's Circle

Legacy of Workmen's Circle

Late 19th century witnessed an increased Jewish migration from Eastern Europe to the United States. In their new country, they faced abusive work conditions, unfair housing and anti-Semitism. Many of them worked in sweatshops with poverty wages and hazardous work conditions. As a response, Jewish community members founded an institution called Der Arbeter Ring or Workmen's Circle. The goal of this institution was to practice Jewish ideals of social justice and preserve their cultural identity. The organization adopted Declaration of Principle in 1901, which stated:

“The constant want and frequent illness which particularly afflict the workers have led us to band together in the Workmen’s Circle, so that by united effort we may help one another. The Workmen’s Circle knows that the aid which it can bring to the worker today is no more than a drop on a hot stone. It will do in time of need. But that there shall be no need—this is the true ideal. The Workmen’s Circle desires to be one more link in the workers’ bond of solidarity, ultimately bringing on the day of complete emancipation from exploitation and oppression.” (Source)

By 1920s, there were over 80,000 members in Workmen's Circle chapters, establishing it as one of the largest Jewish organizations in the country. Workmen's Circle chapters played an active role in labor union organizing across religious/ethnic barriers and provided support, including meals, during strikes. Victims of Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire have been buried in New York Workmen's Circle cemetery.

For more than a hundred years, this institutions has served as a space for building social justice movement and preserving Jewish/Yiddish heritage.

Learn more here:
https://circle.org/who-we-are/our-history/

http://www.circleboston.org/history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workmen%27s_Circle

Boston Workmen's Circle located in Brookline, MA

Fighting Islamophobia through creativity

Boston-based activists Ayesha and Jay started a clothing company “Muslim Love Clothing Company” to celebrate their Muslim identity. Their signature shirt features the simple word Muslim, but replaces “u” with a love sign. Their satirical and progressive messages on clothes have resonated with many Muslims and their allies in the social justice movement. 

Their messages range from serious to satirical socially conscious messages including “refugees welcome”, counter-Trump message, burqa-clad skateboarder with a title “Radical Islam”, and other creative clothing messages for the young and old. 

They describe their message as follows:

“At a time where xenophobia and racism are on the rise, we seek to counter that hate with the imperative ideas that do not always make it into the mainstream. Afterall, when was the last time that you saw the words “Muslims” and “love” put together on your TV screen? By simultaneously culture jamming our world with positive messages and images Muslims, we aim to turn hate on its head.”

Check out their clothing products below.

https://www.facebook.com/muslimloveclothing/

www.etsy.com/shop/MuslimLoveClothingCo

Community Profile: Margaret Rose Murray

Margaret Rose Murray is considered a mother of the community by many African Americans and Muslims in the Triangle area of North Carolina and beyond.  She moved to North Carolina in the early 60s. Her late husband, Kenneth Murray Muhammad, founded the first mosque in NC, Ar-Razzak Masjid, in Durham, NC. They founded private kindergarten schools, Vital Links, in 1964, that has served a large number of African American community members. These schools have also served as community centers hosting social and community empowerment events. The Southeast branch of Vital Link School also serves as a temporary space for As-Salaam Islamic Center, while the actual mosque is being built at Lord Anson Drive in Raleigh, NC.

Mother Rose Murray has been active on social justice front. She has stood up for worker rights and
opposed racism. She spoke with sanitation workers and union organizers during the 2006 Sanitation Workers Strike in Raleigh, NC. Mother Rose Murray won Self-Determination Award by Black Workers for Justice for her leadership on social justice front.

Mother Rose Murray has a goal to preserve the history of African American community. She has
published a coloring book for children called Traces of Faces and Places (also named for a Radio Show she produced from Shaw University) to highlight African American achievements. This book encompasses generations of African American visionaries, inventors and discoverers from all fields of life.

We are blessed to have a selfless leader like Mother Rose Murray in our community.

Read a Huffington Post article about the Murray family and their contributions for North Carolina community here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/manzoor-cheema/will-ali-unite-a-divided_b_10492588.html

الاثنين ٢٠١٦/٧/٢٥

الاثنين ٢٠١٦/٧/٢٥ قصة توفيق وسليمان وعائلاتهم، رحله معاناه بدأت في سوريا وانتهت في مدينة رالي في نورث كارولينا. ابطال حكايتنا رجلان من مدينة درعا السورية، الاول يدعى سليمان الزعبي ٣٥ سنة والثاني توفيق الزعبي ٣٧ سنة، شاءت الاقدار ان يحملوا نفس الكنيه بالرغم من عدم وجود لاي  قرابة او صلة بالدم ولكن اختهم الحرب وجمعتهم الغربة ليصبحوا اخوه. سليمان متزوج وله ٣ اطفال ولدان وبنت، اما توفيق فهو متزوج ايضا ولديه ٤ اطفال ولدان وبنتان والخامس يستعد ليرى النور خلال شهرين. لقد اردت ان اجري هذي المقابله لاعرف معنى لاجئ وهل يختلف اللاجئ عن الشخص العادي فسالت توفيق عن تجربته فاخبرني:  انه قبل الحرب الاهليه السوريه كانوا اشخاصا عاديين يعيشوا حياة هادئة في مدينة درعا المليئة بالمطاعم والاسواق والفعاليات المختلفة، ولكن في عام ٢٠١٢ تغير كل شيء مع الحرب. لقد تعمدت استخدام لغة حيادية في الحديث عن الحرب لكي اترك لهم حرية التعبير عن رأيهم في الحرب، وهم لم يتطرقوا لاي امور سياسية، عرقية، او دينية، وانما كانت المقابلة عبارة عن تجربة انسانية محضة لاشخاص مسالمين ارادوا الحياة بسلام حيث لم يتبقى في ارضهم مكان للسلام،ولكنهم ذكروا ان القوة التي كانت تحميهم من الجيش السوري هو الجيش الحر. سليمان كان يعمل ويعيش في دبي عند اندلاع الحرب وعند سماعه الاخبار وبان الاهالي يهربون من درعا والقرى المجاورة للنجاة بحياتهم ما كان منه الا ان يتخذ قرارآ شجاعا بالعودة الى اهله وبلده. مع مرور الوقت، ازداد الوضع خطورة واغلقت المحلات حتى لم يتبقى شيئآ الا اغلق،وتوفيق يروي ان الناس بدأت بابتكار طرق مختلفة لتأمين حاجتهم وحاجات القرى المجاورة، ولكن في كل يوم كانت الحياة تصبح اكثر تعقيدآ وطوق النجاة يزيد ضيقآ، القرية اصبحت اكثر عرضة لاطلاق النار والقنابل والصواريخ واحيطت بالقناصين من كل جانب وللاسف توفي الكثير من اصدقاء وجيران واحباء لتوفيق، فما كان من توفيق وسليمان الا ان يهربوا مع عائلاتهم لقرى مجاورة . استخدموا الباص للتنقل ولكن الباص تعرض لهجوم شرس من الجيش السوري مما ادى الا اصابة سليمان في ذراعه ورجله واصيبت زوجته في ساقها بالاضافة لان زوجة سليمان عانت من ضعف شديد في حاسة السمع نتيجة لالقاء القذائف والصواريخ المستمر على القريه وسليمان وزوجته كانوا مثالآ على العديد من الركاب الذين قتلوا او جرحوا في الحادثة. اضطر سليمان لترك عائلته في سوريا والسفر للاردن لمدة اربعة اشهر من اجل العلاج. قصة سليمان وتوفيق هي مثال حي لحقيقة الحرب السورية المروعة ونبعاتها المؤلمة لاناس ابرياء عزل يحاولون النجاة بحياتهم وحياة اهليهم مما يدعوك للتساؤل ما الذي يحمل السوري على قتل طفل سوري اخر وما الذي يدعوا جيش البلاد لقتل اهلها بدلا من حمايتهم. الهجرة للاردن لم تكن سهلة وخصوصا على الاطفال، فالحياة في المخيمات كلاجئين صعبة ولكن الجيش الاردني والشعب كان متفهمآ مما سهل الحياة قليلآ. لقد تم القبض على اخو توفيق لاحقآ من قبل الجيش وتم اعتقاله وتعذيبه لفترة قبل ان يطلق سراحه ولكن قريبه لم يحالفه الحظ وقتل على يد الجيش. بقي توفيق وسليمان في الاردن مع عائلاتهم واستأجروا شقق حتى منتصف ٢٠١٦ حيث هاجروا للولايات المتحدة الامريكية. تنقل الاطفال من سوريا الى الاردن ثم امريكا ليس بالامر السهل نتيجة اختلاف كبير للثقافة والعادات والتقاليد في الاردن كان التواصل مع هيئة  الامم المتحدة التي ساعدتهم في الوصول الى الولايات المتحدة. منذ ان وصلوا الى نورث كارولينا تلقوا دعمآ من العديد من الجهات Lutheran Services Carolina and U.S Committee for Refugees and Immigrants-NC,Muslim net, North Raleigh masjed. والعديد من الجهات الزكية ولكن المفاجئة الكبرى لتوفيق وسليمان كانت بالاستقبال الحافل والاهتمام البالغ من الجالية الاسلامية في الولاية فحسب تعبيرهم ان الانتقال لبلاد غريبة مع لغة مختلفة وعادات مختلفةًلم يكن لينجح لولا المساعدات المستمرة من الجالية المسلمة مشكورة. لقد قابلت السيد ناصر شاهين المدير المسؤول عن Muslim net والذي  اخبرني عن المساعدات والتسهيلات التي تقدم للاجئين الجدد في المنطقة. Lutheran service تخبر Al Muslimnet عن  قدوم العائلات ثم تقوم المنظمة بمساعدتهم الجدير بالذكر هنا ان Al Muslimnet هي منظمة خيرية تعتمد على التبرعات والمتطوعين بشكل كامل والمساعدات تقدم من دون اي مقابل ولكنها تقدم على اكمل وجه فعند اعلام المنظمة بقدوم عائلة فيتم تجهيز شقة مفروشة بالكامل من عفش وطعام وشراب ويتم الاستقبال بالمطار وتأمين المواصلات للذهاب للمواعيد وتأمين مترجم للمساعدة في اللغة ومساعدتهم في تأمين حاجياتهم من بحث عن العمل للاهل وتأمين المدارس للاطفال والعديد من الاحتياجات ليتحولوا من لاجئين سوريين لمواطنين امريكيين. كل الشكر والتقدير للسيد ناصر والمنظمة وجميع العاملين المتطوعين فيها الذين لولا تبرعات الجالية لما استطاعوا هم انفسهم تقديم كل هذه الخدمات والوصول لما هم عليه. خلال شهر رمضان قدمت المنظمة كل هذه الخدمات لعائلة كل ٤ ايام تقريبآ وهو ما يتطلب الكثير من الجهد حسب ماقاله السيد ناصر ولذلك من هنا ندعوا لمزيد من المتطوعين للمساعدة في المنظمة حتى يستطيعوا المواظبة على تقديم كل ما يستطيعون من خدمات للعائلات الجديدة. وفي النهاية شكرا لتوفيق وسليمان لمشاركتهم وشكرآ لطارق علي الذي ساعد في الترجمة وفي النهاية اقول لقد وصل للاجابة على سؤالي اللاجئ شخص مثلي ومثلك يحلم بحياة افضل.

Press Release: Raleigh Forum on Islamophobia and Racism

For immediate release...       Contact: Manzoor Cheema Phone Number: 919-412-7008

 

                                                                                                         

Raleigh Muslim Community to hold a Forum on Islamophobia & Racism

As Salam Islamic Center and Muslims for Social Justice will host a forum on Islamophobia & Racism on Sunday August 14, 2016 from 3pm – 5pm at the 1214 E. Lenoir Street, Raleigh NC, 27610

Raleigh, North Carolina – Sunday, August 07, 2016- "Challenging Islamophobia and Racism"

Islam and Muslims have been under the intense scrutiny of the government, the media, and the Western Society since the 9/11 tragedy. Many peaceful law abiding Muslims locally and around the United States have been the victims of discrimination, verbal insults, and violence.

According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports program. Prior to the 9/11 attacks, the program typically recorded between 20 and 30 anti-Muslim hate crimes per year. But in 2001 that number rose more than tenfold to nearly 500. In the years since, annual hate crimes against Muslims have consistently hovered in the 100-150 range, roughly five times higher than the pre-9/11 rate.

In Febuary 2015 three young Muslims students, Deah Barakat, 23, his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and her sister 19 year old Razan were killed execution style by a neighbor in Chapel Hill NC. CNN.com

In 2015, more than 70 acts of damage, destruction, vandalism and intimidation against Muslims houses of worship.

4 out of 10 Americans have an unfavorable view of Islam.

44% of Americans said they believe that some curtailment of civil liberties is necessary for Muslim Americans.

26% think that mosques should be closely monitored by U.S. law enforcement agencies.

29% agreed that undercover law enforcement agents should keep tabs on Muslim activities and fund raising by infiltrating their civic and volunteer organizations.

Source: Islamophobia – CAIR.com

As Salaam Islamic Center and Muslims for Social Justice are cosponsoring this forum to give Muslims in Raleigh, NC an opportunity to discuss, and share their concerns with other community members

The Forum titled "Challenging Racism and Islamophobia"

When: Sunday, August 14th. 3PM - 5PM

Where: As-Salaam Islamic Center, 1214 E Lenoir Street, Raleigh NC 27610

A forum will be organized at As-Salaam Islamic Center to explore the roots of Islamophobia or anti-Muslim bigotry. This forum will explore the following questions:

How does Islamophobia operate in the society?

What are the links between Islamophobia and racism?

How to bridge gap between immigrant and African American Muslims?

How can Muslims defeat racism and Islamophobia?

This forum is free and open for all. Snacks will be provided. Email at info@muslimsforsocialjustice.org or call 919-355-8026 for more questions.

Helping Refugees in North Carolina

Helping Refugees in North Carolina

by James (Munir) Perry, Muslims for Social Justice organizer

Suleiman Alzoubu, 35, and Tawfeek  Alzoubi, 37, not related but both are from the Syrian City of Daraa. Sitting and talking with them about how they came to be refugees from Syria living in Raleigh NC, I realized they’re no different from any other family from any part of the world except for the fact that they have lived through the trauma of Civil War and becoming refugees.

Tawfeek says prior to the civil war they were normal people living normal lives in the city of Daraa, Syria. The town had a lot of shops, restaurants, and activity. In 2012 things took a sudden turn that changed the course of their lives.

 I purposely did not use the terms; rebels or terrorist, I wanted to hear from them what they thought was the cause of the violence. They never once brought up politics, ethnic conflicts, or religion. They shared, the only force protecting them from the Syrian Army attacks were the Syrian Free Army.

Suleiman was living and working in Dubai when he received news that civil war had broken out in his homeland and the government soldiers were causing residents of other villages close to Daraa to flee for their lives. So, he bravely returned to Syria from Dubai to be with his family.

One by one the shops began to close as the situation became more and more dangerous, until there were no more shops open in the village. Tawfeek shares how the people had developed a civilian network from village to village that allowed people of his, and neighboring villages to get supplies to each other. Daily life had become a struggle to survive. Their village was fired on by bombs, rockets, and sniper fire. Tawfeek shares too many of his neighbors and friends died due to short range gunfire, too many to comprehend.

Suleiman Alzoubu

Photography by James Perry

Things deteriorated to the point that Suleiman and Tawfeek had to flee to other villages with their families to survive. While fleeing their village on a crowded bus full of men, women, and children, the bus was attacked by the Syrian Military. 

Suleiman was shot in his arm and leg during the attack, and his wife Demah was shot in her leg and has suffered some hearing loss from the bombs and rockets blast, others on the fleeing bus were also injured or killed. (From Allah we come...)

Suleiman had to leave his family in a Daraa village so he could travel to Jordan for 4 months to receive medical attention for his injuries, which he is still recovering from.

Their story is the horrifying reality of civil war that most people have never seen, these unarmed citizens trying to flee for the safety of themselves and their families were like sitting ducks fired upon with rockets, bombs and sniper rounds by their own army, which should’ve protected them instead. “I’m trying to understand what would drive Muslim Syrian soldiers to kill children?

Tawfeek relates that it was a very hard on the children particularly in the tent camps, fleeing violence and living in makeshift camps along the way to Jordan, and getting refugee status. He says it was very negative and rough living in refugee camps. A bright spot; The people of Jordan including the soldiers treated them kindly.

Tawfeek Alzoubi

Photography by James Perry

Tawfeek's brothers were captured by Syrian soldiers and tortured but later released. His cousin wasn’t as fortunate, he was killed. (From Allah we come...) Suliman and Tawfeek along their families lived in refugee camps eventually making renting an apartment in Jordan in 2012 until June 2016.

Moving to Jordan and eventually the US was difficult for the children because of the cultural differences It has taken the children time to adjust. While in Jordan they made contact with the UN and eventually received refugee status which allowed them to get services from organizations that work with refugees, in their case the International Organization for Immigration. They accepted immigration to the United States, Raleigh NC arriving in June 2016, less than two months ago.

Since arriving in Raleigh the brothers and their families have received relocation support services from Lutheran Services Carolina and U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants – NC, Muslim Net, North Raleigh Masjid, and many others generous local Muslims and businesses. Suliman and Tawfeek biggest surprise was how welcoming and supportive the Raleigh Muslim Community has been to them.  As you can imagine moving to a new country and new culture, were you are forced to start life over is not an easy transition. These two families and many others like them here in Raleigh need our continued support and prayers while adjusting to their new life in America.

I interviewed Nasser Shahin, Director of Al-Muslim Net. He shared with many the wonderful comprehensive support they offer to new immigrant families to the Triangle.  Muslim Net is notified by Lutheran Services or USCRI that a new family is coming to Raleigh or Durham NC. Muslim Net is a 100% volunteer and donation driven organization, however, the work they do is amazing. When a new immigrant family is arriving Muslim Net gets right to work preparing for their arrival. Social Service agencies could learn a lot from this volunteer organization. They setup transportation and “meet and greet” from the airport; they provide completely furnish apartments for the arriving families with just about everything they need:

Stocked refrigerators; pots and pans; washer and dryers; hot food; transportation to appointments; translation services; orientation to their new city; cell phones; job searches; children’s school registration; school supplies; toothpaste and just about anything else they may need to make their transition from refugee to new immigrant as comfortable and worry free as possible. 

For all of the great work that Nasser and his organization is doing coordinating donations and services they are not in search of praise Alhumdulilah! They say if it wasn’t for the great response and generosity from the Triangle Muslim Community, they wouldn’t be able to provide for the needs of our new immigrant families.

During the month of Ramadan Muslim Net provided all of the services and donations listed above to 1 new family every 4.5 days.  Nasser says providing all of the support services to a new family every 4 days is very intense and demanding. Muslim Net is in need of volunteers and continued donations so they can continue to provide these amazing services to new immigrant Muslim families.

If you like to volunteer or donate to Muslim Net contact them at http://almuslimnet.org/,

info@almuslimnet.org, and request to be added to their email list. Nasser says no donation or volunteer effort is too small. This is the real Islam the media tries to hide, but the light of Islam will continue to shine on.

Thank you to Tawfeek, Suleiman and their families for sharing their life-changing events with us.

Thank you to Tareq Ali for facilitating and translating for the interview. Thank you to all of you who have assisted our brothers and sister in any way at all. May Allah reward you and bless you.

#BlackLivesMatter Action in Durham on 7/21/16

Hundreds of people gathered in front of Durham police headquarters at 6pm on Thursday (7/21) evening. As the crowd grew, the rally took over the intersection (Chapel Hill St and Duke St) blocking the flow of traffic in all directions. Seven Black and POC organizers chained themselves to the railing outside of the police department. Meanwhile, white comrades, connected to one another with lockboxes, blocked Duke St. 

The program featured speakers from a number of organization, including MSJ (thank you to Q for speaking), as well as Black Youth Project 100, Southerners on New Ground (SONG), Workers World Party, Durham Solidarity Center, Showing Up For Racial Justice - Triangle (SURJ), Black Workers for Justice, SpiritHouse, and others. Speakers denounced violence and terror the police systematically inflict against Black people and spoke about the need to re-invest in the welfare of our communities—by prioritizing community needs, first and foremost, and re-directing resources to job programs, affordable housing, education, healthcare, etc. Many recognized that we find ourselves in a moment within the larger movement that is spreading nationwide, and we cannot afford to stay silent.

Importantly, many speakers uplifted the names of those killed by police nationwide, as well as here in our state—just this year, Akiel Denkins was killed in Raleigh, Deriante Miller in Kinston, and Jai "Jerry" Williams in Asheville. Their names were lifted up throughout the evening.

Further, rally organizers paid close attention to the role police plays locally. Annually, the Durham Police Department already receives nearly $60 million of the city budget. The Durham Police Department this year was found to demonstrate alarming racial bias against Black residents in their policing but has not faced any funding restrictions from city officials. Over the past year, Durham Beyond Policing, a local campaign opposing the building of a new police headquarters and demanding investment in Black and Brown community, has called city’s attention to the harm that the police bring to communities of color.  

After the larger crowd dispersed, protesters engaging in civil disobedience and their supporters remained at the intersection until midnight, having blocked traffic in all four directions for six hours total. The rally was part of #FreedomNow national day of action, a call for which was issued by the Movement for Black Lives, a national coalition of Black racial justice organizations. 

The rally received significant coverage in local media: 

1) ABC 11: "Protestors Block Streets in Durham" 

2) WRAL: "Black Lives Matter Protest Blocks Traffic in Durham" 

3) N&O: "Hundreds in Durham Protest Police Killings, New Police Headquarters" 

4) WNCN: "Black Lives Matter Protestors Block Downtown Durham Streets" 

5) Herald Sun: "Solidarity: Protestors demand defunding of police, community investment" 

Black Lives Matter/End Islamophobia Forum at UE150 Biannual Convention

North Carolina Public Workers Union, UE Local 150, organized biannual convention in Raleigh on July 16-17, 2016. Delegates from 16 workplaces from across the state gathered to discuss the current political landscape, to support the Black Lives Matter movement, and show important gains of the Fight for $15 movement and plan steps for the next 2 years of struggle! UE Local 150 is rank-and-file and predominantly Black workers led organization. Nationally, UE (United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America) is one of the most progressive unions in the country that believes in workers empowerment than business unionism. UE has embraced the movement for BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) against Israeli occupation, based on a motion by UE Local 150 chapter. This makes UE the only national union to adopt such a measure.

During the convention, a panel on Black Lives Matter and Ending Islamophobia was organized. This invited speeches by Danielle Purifoy from Durham Beyond Policing and Manzoor Cheema from Muslims for Social Justice. This panel explored the theme of police oppression and envisioning a future without policing. Islamophobia is an extension of anti-Black racism and it is increasingly employed as a divide-and-conquer strategy. The following is the speech on Islamophobia:

"Islamophobia, or bigotry against Muslims, is an extension of anti-Black racism. Islam and Muslims are not a race, but they have been reduced to a race or racialized. We should also keep in mind that a significant number of Muslims are Black Muslims. Significant number of Muslims came to the USA through slavery. About 30% of slaves were Muslims. Their religion and heritage was robbed. After slavery, many Black people converted or reverted to Islam and established some of the first mosques in the country. Large number of immigrant Muslims came to the USA after 1965 visa policy change that allowed Black and Brown immigrants to come to the USA. This was a result of the civil rights movement's demand to increase quote for non-European immigrants. As immigrant Muslims, we owe a debt to Black Muslims and anti-racism movement.

Islamophobia, like other oppressions, is a result of the crisis of capitalism. Capitalist forces have always required tools to divide people and pit victims of exploitation against each other. Working class whites have historically supported anti-Black policies that have also hurt their class interests. As the country witnesses one of the highest inequalities in more than 100 years; capitalist and white supremacist forces employ homophobia, xenophobia against immigrants and Islamophobia to further divide-and-conquer working and oppressed people. The work by UE Local 150, the largest rank-and-file public workers union in North Carolina, is exemplary in building intersectional movement. UE Local 150 is led by Black workers and has brought Black Liberation perspective to labor organizing. UE Local 150 has also supported global anti-colonial movements, namely support of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against the Israel occupation. Your achievement in working outside the “business unionism” model and connecting issues of race, class, gender, sexuality (UE150 came out strongly against transphobic HB2 law) and wars abroad is an inspiration for progressive allies.

As Muslims for Social Justice, we are committed to linking the movement against Islamophobia with Black Liberation and worker rights movement. We do not take the issue of solidarity lightly. Solidarity is beyond sentimentality. Our goal is to organize Muslims working class and link them with the movement led by Black Workers for Justice and UE Local 150. This organizing work in the Muslim community and joining the broader workers and progressive movement is essential to topple the oppressive balance of power. Nothing short of that will solve the root cause of oppression. Muslims for Social Justice will launch a paper “Muslims Workers” soon that will be used as an organizing tool in Muslim working places. We look forward to learning from and developing a longterm partnership with Black Workers for Justice and UE Local 150, as we launch this important chapter of organizing Muslims workers."

Here are pictures from the event