OntheWilderSide

On Tuesday in Westbury, a coalition of civil rights, religious and interfaith groups, will protest U.S. Rep. Peter T. King’s upcoming congressional “radicalization” hearing targeting the American Muslim community by hosting a counter-hearing on religious freedom.

The coalition, Long Island Neighbors for American Values recently formed to promote diversity and tolerance and to counter attempts to discriminate or otherwise target individuals or groups based on religion or ethnicity.

In March, Congressman King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, held the first in a series of hearings on the so-called “radicalization” of the American Muslim community and its level of cooperation with government anti-terrorism efforts. King’s second such hearing will be held Wednesday in Washington, D.C. It will focus on the activities of Muslims in U.S. prisons. 

Muslim residents in Long Island and across the nation have been facing a disturbing wave of bigotry and religiously motivated discrimination that includes attacks on existing and proposed Islamic centers. King’s misguided hearings only serve to further demonize Muslim residents and inflame existing tensions.

Tuesday’s counter-hearing, which will be held at 10 a.m. at the Islamic Center of Long Island, will feature testimony by local religious leaders and civil liberties advocates on the core American principle of religious freedom.

 

What:

A Hearing in Defense of Religious Freedom hosted by Long Island Neighbors for American Values

 

When:

Tuesday, June 14, 10 – 11 a.m.

 

Where:

Islamic Center of Long Island, 835 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury

Who:

Samantha Fredrickson, director, NYCLU Nassau County Chapter

Bob Nuxoll, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Long Island Chapter

Neelofer Chaudry, director of policy for the Long Island Minority AIDS Coalition

Imam Isa Abdul Kareem, Ta Ha Masjid, Inc. in Roosevelt and Muslim chaplain at Nassau County Correctional Center

Phyllis Rice, vice-chair Nassau County Human Rights Commission

Sister Jeanne Clark, Pax Christi Long Island

 

Coalition Members:

• Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Long Island Chapter
• Empire Justice Center
• Hillside Islamic Center
• Islamic Center of Long Island
• Jaam’e Masjid, Bellmore
• Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives
• Long Island Civic Participation Project.
• Long Island Council of Churches
• Long Island Jobs with Justice
• Long Island Muslim Association
• Long Island Teachers for Human Rights
• Long Island Wins
• Masjid Darul Qu’ran
• Muslim Law Association at Hofstra
• Muslim Peace Coalition
• Muslims on Long Island
• New York Civil Liberties Union, Nassau Chapter
• New York Civil Liberties Union, Suffolk Chapter
• Pax Christi, LI
• Social Justice Committee of UUCSR
• Strong Youth Inc.
• The Workplace Project

Filed under: Action Alert!, activism, congress, grassroots democracy, new york, New York State Politics, social & economic justice Tagged: | freedom of religion, islam, long island, muslim, New York Civil Liberties Union, Peter T. King, united states, United States House Committee on Homeland Security