FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 18, 2019

CONTACT: Kawana Lloyd, 240-472-2860, [email protected]; Nick Hatcher, 919-802-5663, [email protected] 

Muslim Caucus Statement Responds to the Latest Trump Defense of Racists, Fear-Mongering Tirade Against U.S. Representatives  

Washington, DC-- The Muslim Caucus Education Collective President and Founder Ghazala Salam, released the following statement today, in response to Donald Trump’s on-going defense of his racist, fear-mongering tirade against Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, and Ilhan Omar, and most recently, his silence during a Trump rally as the crowd yelled, “send her back” as he targeted Omar.

“It’s unacceptable for the President of the United States to be so overtly racist! This kind of politics is anti-American, plain, and simple. 

“The Muslim Caucus Education Collective is proud to stand with the women of color in Congress, as they reflect the constituencies that truly make America beautiful. We understand that the changing face of America looks like ‘the squad,’ people of color, first-generation U.S. Citizens,  foreign-born U.S. Citizens, racially, ethnically, and spiritually diverse constituencies. 

“Phobia is a real and present danger in our civic and political discourse and both Democrats and Republicans have adopted damaging and negative language about immigrants and Muslims -- that hurts our communities and represses turnout.” Ghazala Salam 

“We are calling Democratic and Republican candidates to show that they stand with American Muslims by attending the conference and addressing American Muslims directly in this moment.” 

“If the xenophobic political atmosphere and hatred being fueled by Trump horrifies you, then we urge you to make your voice heard at the ballot box in the 2020 presidential election cycle, donate and organize like never before. The soul and the very existence of our country are at stake!” ~ Ghazala Salam, president and founder of the Muslim Caucus Education Collective. 

This July 23-24, the Muslim Caucus will host a historic, first-ever national gathering of American Muslims in politics -- featuring a powerhouse lineup of Representative Ilhan Omar, Representative Rashida Tlaib, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, former Michigan Gubernatorial candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, and more. The conference, with the theme Phobia: Real & Present Danger In Our Political Discourse (full agenda here), will bring together hundreds of American Muslims in politics from organizers and activists to elected officials and organizational leaders. 

The Muslim Caucus is calling on candidates to show they stand with American Muslims by attending the conference and addressing American Muslims directly in this moment. 

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The Muslim Caucus is a national organization focused on building movements by organizing American Muslims who are directly impacted by the real and present danger of phobia in our everyday civic and political discourse. www.muslimcaucuscollective.org

Co-Chair Basheer Jones Cleveland Ward 7 Councilman, city’s first Muslim council representative.	Co-Chair Zarina Baber Vice Chair of Anoka County Democratic Party. First Muslim Woman to run as the Lt. Governor Minnesota.

This conference has been built with a focus on engaging Muslim voters and begins building long-term Muslim American Electoral Power at the local, state, and national level to build our power beyond 2020 so the multi-ethnic, multi-racial Muslim constituencies can unite as one constituency across America.

The Muslim Caucus conference organizers also plan to help identify issues of common concern at the national and local levels and bridge the gaps between traditional policy advocacy and fights for equality and justice. Including a 2020 Presidential Forum.

Here is what you can expect:

• Connect with a network of impassioned and engaged citizens dedicated to making positive change.
• Contextualize the path to power.
• Commit to organizing as One Constituency.
• Catapult and transform your individual efforts into the power of shared, collective action.

The first annual Muslim Caucus Conference truly is the first of its kind bringing together Muslim American voters, elected officials, and activists to develop a clear roadmap for implementing a policy agenda that centers and organizes Muslim Americans.

Join us in D.C. for the Muslim Collective for Equitable Democracy on July 23-24, 2019.