(SEATTLE, WA 3/17/19) – A coalition of over 20 local Muslim organizations and mosques is hosting an interfaith prayer vigil and anti-Islamophobia teach-in after the massacre of 50 worshipers in an Islamophobic attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The event will be held on Monday, March 18th from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound (MAPS) in Redmond.
WHAT: Interfaith Prayer Vigil & Anti-Islamophobia Teach-in
WHERE: The Muslim Association of Puget Sound , 17550 NE 67th Ct, Redmond, WA 98052
WHEN: Monday, March 18th 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
RSVP: bit.ly/muslimstrong
“We are grieving with our brothers and sisters in New Zealand today. This type of violent hate is unacceptable anywhere and particularly horrifying in a house of worship. No one should ever feel afraid while practicing their faith,” said Masih Fouladi, Executive Director for CAIR-WA. “Let’s make sure we turn this moment of solidarity to action and connect the dots between Islamophobia anywhere and this sort of violence.”
“This is a time of tragedy and trauma,” said Aneelah Afzali, Executive Director of MAPS-AMEN (American Muslim Empowerment Network). “But to really address the roots of the problem and not just its horrific and even deadly consequences, we wanted to go beyond thoughts and prayers. In addition to a vigil and interfaith prayer service, we also want to educate the wider community about the real problem of Islamophobia and how it hurts all of us as Americans.”
Afzali continued:
“We will also discuss concrete action to effectively combat Islamophobia. Our goal is to make Washington state a safer place for all, where our shared values of religious freedom, diversity, understanding, and unity are upheld.”
The program will include an interfaith prayer, remarks from elected officials and faith leaders, a talk on how to effectively advocate for the Muslim community in Washington, and an action training to understand and respond to the roots of Islamophobia.
All community members of all or no faith backgrounds are welcome to join us on Monday. This is an opportunity to stand together as a community against hate and learn about how to turn our grief and anger into action.
MEDIA: RSVP BY MONDAY 3 PM
MEDIA CONTACT: CAIR-WA Media and Outreach Director, Sarah Stuteville This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 206-403-3931
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.