Sold-Out Event Raises More Than $620,000 for Civil Rights Work
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 1,000 people turned out
on Saturday at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) banquet in
Arlington, Va., to hear addresses by several elected officials, including
Keith Ellison, the first Muslim in Congress.
The event raised more than $620,000 to support CAIR's civil rights and
advocacy work on behalf of the American Muslim community. (Another dinner
held by CAIR's Southern California chapter (CAIR-LA) over the weekend
raised more than $430,000. Some 1,800 people attended that event.)
Elected officials who spoke at the sold-out event included
Representative- elect Ellison (D-MN), as well as Reps. Mike Honda (D-CA),
Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Albert Wynn (D-MD). Ellison and Jackson Lee
offered their addresses by video. Saqib Ali, who was elected to the
Maryland House of Delegates (District 39) on November 7, was also in
attendance.
To view Keith Ellison's address, go to:
https://www.cair.com/videos/keith_ellison.wmv
To view Jackson Lee's address, go to:
https://www.cair.com/videos/sheila_jackson.wmv
SEE ALSO: Keith Olbermann, Jon Stewart Slam Glenn Beck for Questioning
Keith Ellison's Patriotism
http://mediamatters.org/items/200611180006
http://mediamatters.org/items/200611160004
Other speakers included Special Agent in Charge Joseph Persichini, Jr.
of the FBI's Washington Field Office, Fairfax County Police Chief Col.
David M. Rohrer and Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. Most members of CAIR's
national board also took part in the banquet, which was emceed by Julia
Shearson of CAIR- Ohio's Cleveland office.
Several Muslim community members received CAIR Islamic Community
Service Awards during the dinner. The annual CAIR Rosa Parks Civil
Liberties Scholarship went to Raashida Muhammad of Stillman College.
"We would like to thank all those who, through their hard work and
generosity, made CAIR's annual banquet such a success," said CAIR Board
Chairman Parvez Ahmed. "Special thanks go to all those who volunteered
their time and talents to make the dinner possible."
CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices
and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the
understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties,
empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding.
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper,
202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications
Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail:
rahmed@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787,
E-Mail: arubin@cair.com.
SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations
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Related links:
http://www.cair-net.org
CONTACT:
Ibrahim Hooper, National Communications
Director, +1-202-488-8787 or +1-202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com,
Rabiah Ahmed, Communications Coordinator, +1-202-488-8787 or
+1-202-439-1441, rahmed@cair.com, or Communications Coordinator,
Amina Rubin, +1-202-488-8787, arubin@cair.com, all of CAIR
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