In late January, MSNBC.com reporter Kari Huus contacted CAIR-Washington about a series of stories she was working on addressing Islam in the United States. Specifically, Kari contacted CAIR-WA seeking a "Know Your Rights" presentation she could attend for a piece in which she was addressing ways that Muslim leaders are attempting to educate the American Muslim population about their civil rights with local and federal authorities. To accommodate Kari's request.
CAIR-Washington staff contacted several Muslim Student Association (MSA) chapters at different universities and colleges in Seattle. CAIR-Washington's Executive Director, Arsalan Bukhari, and Civil Rights Coordinator, Jennifer Gist, arranged a Know Your Rights presentation with Seattle Central Community College's MSA for February 23, 2011, and advertised the event with posters on campus and Facebook communication.
Click here to view photos from the event
On the day of the event, several students were in attendance, as well as professors from SCCC and Kari Huus - well over 80 people in total. The presentation followed typical format: addressing individual civil rights and constitutionally protected categories in a variety of arenas including work, school, law enforcement, airport, housing, and public accommodations. After Jennifer concluded the brief presentation, several students raised thoughtful questions, including the rights of a business to "refuse service to anyone" and the history of redlining in the housing industry. Arsalan then gave a brief presentation on Islamophobia, addressing the nuts and bolts of what Islamophobia is and how students can be involved in combatting Islamophobic material.
Concluding the presentation, CAIR-Washington staff passed around sign-up sheets for CAIR-Washington's Media Response Team, for which four students signed up. After pizza had been cleaned up and chairs rearranged, Kari spoke with Arsalan and Jennifer about the work of CAIR-Washington and the Islam in the United States project with MSNBC.com.
CAIR-Washington staff appreciates Kari's interest in the American Muslim community and welcomed her to contact us with questions or needs in the future.
