#CAIR-DC: Faith and Civil Rights Leaders to Announce Voting Rights Initiative to Combat Voter Suppression Washington D.C. April 21, 2014 - National civil rights and faith leaders will join the American Muslim Association (AMA) for a press conference at the National Press Club on Thursday, April 24th, 2014 at 9:00AM in the Zenger Room. What: Press Conference on issues of voting rights and voter suppression When: Thursday, April 24th, 2014 at 9 AM. National Press Club (Zenger Room); 529 14th St NW; Washington, DC Participants at the press conference will include: * Hilary Shelton; Vice President of Advocacy for the NAACP * Reverend Graylan Hagler; Senior Minister Plymouth Congregational Church * Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center * Imam Johari Abdul-Malik * Harissa Mohamed; MAACPAC Fellow and University of Maryland Student Activist * Naeem Baig; President of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) * Nihad Awad; National Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) * A representative from Virginia New Majority * A representative from the office of Congressman Jim Moran The leaders will express their support for AMA’s Voters Rights Initiative entitled: “Lift Every Voice and Vote”. The initiative will: 1.) Nationally increase voter registration, education and mobilization. 2.) Train monitors to protect voters from intimidation at the polls 3.) Advocate that the United States Justice Department continue to investigate states that have passed legislation and policies that suppress the voting rights of African-Americans, minorities, students and the elderly. AMA’s National Director Mahdi Bray stated, “In the 1950’s I personally witnessed violent intimidation against my family because they were registering and encouraging African-Americans to vote. To think that in 2014 we are facing, in some states, Neo-Jim Crow voting laws and policy is unconscionable and immoral. People have paid with their lives for the right to vote. We’ve come too far to go back, thus we are determined to organize and take our souls to the polls and vote!” Additionally Bray added, “We will also push for the Congressional passage of the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014.” The American Muslim Alliances is a national civil and human rights advocacy organization promoting social and economic justice through citizen participation and civic engagement. Contact: Mahdi Bray ImamBray@yahoo 202.421.3623/ 202.280.7466 1010 Vermont Ave Ste #1002 Washington, DC 20006 ###
Posted on: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 18:06:02 +0000
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