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Empowerment and representation through Muslim voter
registration.
By mickielynn on 2016-10-06 09:30:17
One thing that the political history of the United States teaches us is that if a particular demographic group doesn't vote in
large numbers then it's easy for politicians to ignore their rights and their needs. In the current atmosphere of hatred and fear
being stirred up against Muslim Americans, one remedy is to make sure that they increase their political power by
registering and voting in the November 8th elections. This is particularly important in the current election cycle where
various techniques being employed to repress voting in the wake of the Supreme Court decision that gutted parts of the
Voting Rights Act. Here's a report on the positive steps being taken by various groups, nationwide, to register Muslim voters
and voters of other ethnicity who happen to be in the neighborhoods where the registration is taken place. One group that is
organizing such registration drives is a veteran's group called Veterans Challenge Islamophobia. You can check out their
website at the link above and read their reasons for doing this work but I'll just quote the final line from their statement.
“*’..We call on all in the United States to let their voices be heard and to stand up for the values of tolerance,
respect and love." —VCI
[caption id="attachment_8902" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
background image from the
home page of Veterans Challenge Islamophobia[/caption] Since our blog originates in the Capital District of New York I
wanted to highlight a registration drive that is happening right here in Albany. This is an outreach statement from John
Amidon, President of the Albany chapter of Veterans for Peace that describes the process:
For democracy to work, voting by an informed and responsible citizenry is necessary. Veterans For Peace
(VFP), the Muslim Solidarity Committee, the Interfaith Alliance of NYS, the Interfaith Center Serving the
University at Albany, and the Social Action Committee of Congregation Beth Emeth are joining with Masjid
As-Salam to hold a neighborhood voter registration drive in front of Masjid As-Salam, 276 Central Avenue,
Albany, starting on Friday, September 23, from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The registration drive will continue for
four Fridays until October 14, 2016. Nationally, Veterans For Peace is conducting a campaign to challenge
Islamophobia to support our Muslim brothers and sisters' right to worship in peace and security... To this end,
we are assisting everyone at the mosque and any and all citizens in the neighborhood to register to vote and
make their voices heard in the upcoming elections.
[caption id="attachment_8901" align="aligncenter" width="300"] First day of
voter registration drive outside Masjid As Salam, Central Avenue, Albany NY, September 23, 2016[/caption] The first Friday
of the campaign received_good TV coverage on WNYT WNYT also includes a video in which Lynne Jackson, of the
Muslim Solidarity Committee and Project Salam (the other prime organizer of this effort) speaks about the registration
Ti
drive. [caption id="attachment_8913" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Lynne Jackson on her journey for justice, photo by Dan Van Riper[/caption] Here's a short YouTube video of the interactions
at the table, taken by John Amidon.
Embedded video at https:/Awww.youtube.com/embed/ImW2MBwTVKk?rel=0
During the first two Fridays 50 people were registered and the success of
the drive meant that a second site was added, in Latham at the Al-Hidaya Center 322 Troy-Schenectady Rd, Latham.
(Requiring an urgent call for more volunteers.) Since October 14th is the last day of voter registration in New York State
there will be two more Friday registration sessions. One tomorrow from 11:30 am to 2 PM and another on October 14th, at
the same time and the same two locations. To come full circle and point out that this effort is a national one, here's the link to
an article about a CAIR sponsored registration venue in New Jersey, where you can get the flavor of another such effort.
[caption id="attachment_8899" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
A woman wearing a hijab
walks past a voting sign in Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photo: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)[/caption]
