As the Islamophobic hate group ACT for America organizes anti-Muslim protests to be held across the country on June 10th, FCNL condemns this demonstration of religious bias and urges local communities to reaffirm their commitment to welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds.
“As ACT for America plans Islamophobic events in cities across the country, FCNL stands unequivocally opposed to the hate and Islamophobia propagated by this group,” FCNL Lobbyist for Human Rights and Civil Liberties Yasmine Taeb said. “It is particularly disturbing and disheartening to see this kind of activity during Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar.”
FCNL, in addition to 128 national and local organizations, signed onto twenty-nine letters addressed to mayors across the country, asking them to denounce the ACT for America events and reaffirm that their cities are open to everyone. “The members of your community, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, must be reassured that bigotry, hatred, and prejudice against any individual or group based on their faith, gender, ethnicity, nationality, race, sexual orientation, or disability status will not be tolerated,” the letters state.
Commenting on the protests, Taeb emphasized that it is not enough to merely condemn hate. “We must continue to advocate for our neighbors of all faiths and backgrounds,” she said, “until our acts of support and welcome speak louder than any hateful sign or chant.”
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The true goal of ACT for America’s protests, ostensibly organized to oppose the implementation of Sharia law in the U.S., is to spread disparaging falsehoods about American Muslims. “The comments found on the webpages for these events are fundamentally incompatible with religious freedom and respect for people of all faiths,” Taeb said, citing a piece published by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
In fact, the SPLC has declared ACT for America to be a hate group, and its leaders frequently make outrageous, virulent statements about people of the Muslim faith: ACT for America’s founder, Brigitte Gabriel, has said that “every practicing Muslim is a radical Muslim,” that Muslims are a “natural threat to civilized people of the world,” and that that a “practicing Muslim, who believes in the teachings of the Koran, cannot be a loyal citizen to the United States of America.”
Revealing the welcoming, pluralistic nature of many American communities, the rhetoric of ACT for America ultimately seems to have limited appeal. Turnout at ACT’s protests is expected to be low, and the organization has already had to cancel protests in some cities due to public opposition and lack of interest.
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Nevertheless, “it is critical that we respond to this demonstration of Islamophobia by lifting up our voices in support of immigrants, refugees, and Muslims,” Taeb said. World Refugee Day will take place on June 20th, and local communities can show their support by calling Congress, hosting an event, or posting about refugee issues on social media. Constituents can also counter xenophobia by telling their members of Congress that they support comprehensive immigration reform, not endless enforcement measures designed to block entrance into the United States and force immigrants in this country to live in fear.
“It is important not to give these Islamophobic agitators too much weight,” Taeb said, “but nor can we sit back and let a single group promoting fear and hatred claim to speak on behalf of the American people.” Thousands of people came out in opposition to this administration’s Muslim ban executive order, she said, packing airports and other public places to demonstrate their support for their Muslim, refugee, and immigrant neighbors. “Today,” she concluded, “we must continue to stand united against fear, hatred, and bigotry.”