There are lots of wonderful Women Leaders who will be joining the conversation as well, so we have just over an hour i think, actually we are just under an hour to hear from some of the muslims leading the conversation about work for justice and inclusion in america and our topic is just a small issue of how phobia is affecting our civic and political discourse. So ill keep intros quite brief and i dont have everyones full introduction because of the panel because maybe ill let folks tell a little bit about themselves, the folks you havent heard from you. But we want to use the time to actually hear from these compelling leaders about these issues and i think we will be joinedby representative omar when she arrives. So doctor abu l siad is a physician, Public Health activists among many other things and ran for governor of michiganin 2018 with numerous progressive endorsements. Kzhir khan lost his son in the iraq war and is most known for his compelling speech about the constitution and inclusion in this country at the 2016 Democratic National convention. Sam russell is our representative from the state of virginia and ill let him say a little bit more about himself and you have the opportunity just a few minutes ago to hear from kim martin from minnesota so id like to open this by asking each of you to give us a sense of how you think about the role of phobia. Thinking about zeno phobia, islam a phobia and the other forms of bigotry and fear in the current Political Climate and a specific question to think about here is how does this shape how you show up and how you do your work and perhaps the limits on how youre able to show up and do your work as well as the opportunities here so id like to go ahead and start with ken, go ahead. There we go. First let me say i believe im potentially the only nonmuslim on the state so i have to admit i have my own White Privilege here , but that doesnt prevent me from seeing the phobias exist throughout our communities, both in minnesota and frankly throughout this country. There are many ways that it manifests itself in politics, specifically. We see not just whats been happening the last few weeks but this rise of islam a phobia has really impacted politics in minnesota and we see people engaging in division and divisive language and hate speech. We had a bombing at the don farouq mosque inminneapolis. Weve had many incidents of hate crimes in minnesota against candidates, against members of the Muslim Community. As you know we have a large Muslim Community in minnesota and we are proud ofthat community. Our job as political leaders when this happens is not distilled this hatred, but to stand up as i mentioned earlier with our brothers and sisters and to immediately denounce and reject any form of racism, bigotry or zeno phobia but its more prevalent and just the Muslim Community as youve heard others say. We are seeing all forms of phobia on the rise or its homophobia, zeno phobia , and other forms of hate. And again, the one thing that i would ask people and i constantly ask folks is what are our american values. Whats has always brought people to our shores and mark the statue of liberty, the beacon of light around the world that brought so many people to this country is the idea that no matter where you are, where youre from , what your race, your definition he , that you have the opportunity to succeed. Here comes my congresswoman. And my friend. [applause] im going to stop talking because i love ilhan, im so glad shes here. Thank you so much can and we are so privileged to be joined by Representative Ilhan Omar who as you well know serves as a us representative for minnesotas Fifth District and together with representative raashida tlaib is one of the first muslim women to be erected to congress and so were so grateful to have her join the conversation. You just arrived i wont catch the question to you quite yet so you have a moment to thank the question im asking for to consider and we will go to doctor alsayyid next is to give us a chance to think about the role of tina phobia and islam aphobia and other forms of bigotry and fear in the Political Climate. How it shapes how you show up and how youre able to do your work and thinking about the limitations and the opportunities that the current Political Climate provides. Doctor alsayyid and then we will come over to represent at omar. I dont mean to pick apart the frame of the question of the question is how do i think about it and i try not to think about it because as Toni Morrison reminds us, the work ofracism is distraction. And the point of the matter is dont get distracted, dont think about it, thats not to say dont acknowledge that it exists because it would begin dress not to but if the goal of their enterprises to distract us, lets not get distracted. I also want to focus not necessarily on the impact these phobias have on muslim candidates because i think its real and apparent and certainly im a muslim politician, who got elected, i dont have to tell you what that is but what i do want to think a little bit about is what is the opportunity here . Whats the point of what were doing mark to me, if i want to ask what the point of what were doing is i do to the founding documents of our country, our constitution darts with three words. We people. And then what are the next 84 extra credit . In order to form a more Perfect Union. I want you to ask yourself something about this concept of more perfect. Because my simple mind, profession is an absolute state. Youre either perfect or youre not so what does it mean to become more perfect . How do you even get more perfect and i think you have to go back to those first three words. We the people. And then the last one, a union. The way of perfecting is creating a union out of we the people. Its out of deciding that we are going to show up and also create space for other folks. Thats the point here. And insofar as we see that this phobia or any phobia whether it be against people of color, whether it be against women which is what sexism is, whether it be against people who love or identify a different way, any of those phobias are the things that we are supposed to be addressing the work of perfecting is in fact tearing down those phobias, thats the point. And if thats the point, we have an amazing opportunity to stand up and decide we are going to play our part in point of perfecting and creating out of many one. So i personally try not to focus on it because its points is distraction but i see it as an object of the work, the fact that our goal is to break down this phobia because it gets in the way of doing what it is that we are supposed to do in the first place, the work of perfecting. [applause] thank you and a brief announcement before i turn it to representative omar, if you wouldnt mind staying seated even if somebody says something really compelling cause we have media in the back who cant see if the audience is pending so thank you very much for that. Representative omar. Youre no stranger to dealing with all of these phobias continue to, and clearly its shaped much of how you show up in your work and im curious to hear your reflections on that to the group. Thank you. Good morning everyone. So i think about these phobias as sort of an uttering that is in process and often times its really what abdul was talking about, to undo and to combat other ring. Its to build community. And for someone whos felt very othered in many ways i know what bullying has meant for my community and i talk a lot about this wonderful statethat i represent. A very cold state but the people have warm hearts and you will see that we have a history of making history. And that is because we are in the business really of perfecting that more Perfect Union can exist. Understand what we the people are capable of and i think if you are stuck in the defending of your identities you aregoing to be distracted from the work of building. I know that for many people who will say these phobias need to be talked about, understand the significance of being complacent in the process of not talking about them and i know when pablo says dont be distracted, that resonates with me cause racism distracts, racism destroys and racism can kill. But we have to also confront it. So often, so many people walk around nacve to the idea of how threatening this could be. And we see it creep into so many policies. Right now even when were talking about the president , people will say his remarks are racist and we forget the inherent racism that has always been part of him. And how much he always takes an opportunity for others developed by them and destroy their existence and their ability to access our justice system, even when we think back to the exonerated five, central park five young boys. Going out of your way to ask for lynching or five innocent young men, boys and two have the full support of society and the media, to say this is okay. Someone isjust angry to be calling for lynching of young people. Makes us recognize how we got here today, because for so long we have to excuse all of it to say someone is angry. Someones taking outof turn. You know, someone is a victim of this so were going to allow them to say this and we forget that this system of oppression that continues to build and continues to other so many of us and vilify us in the process to almost eliminate our existence in many aspects of society. And so i think at least for me, its not that im going to allow it to distract me im interested in unmasking it and taking it to task because if you dont fully confronted and push people, were going to be stuck here for another generationor two. And i just, i dont think i can withstand allowing my children and their children to exist in the pains that ive existed in and many others like me have existed him in this country. [applause] thank you representative omar. Id like to turn now to kzhir khan and hear your reflections on this issue and how we grapple with it in the current climate. Before i share my sentiments and my thoughts, i wish to pay tribute to ilhan. Honorable representative. Im okay now. A famous poet says dont worry about theheadwinds. It blows to make you fly higher. Always remember that,whenever youre distracted. The rally in North Carolina wasnt representative of the United States. The rally at the airport of minnesota when you went back was representative of the United States. [applause] fortunately, i visited you three times prior to your collection. Ive been to richmond so many times to make sure that we elect Virginia Assembly majority and this year wewill. Same thing with doctor salam and of course representative from minnesota. And its very dear to me, today is my 254th speaking engagements. Last week i was at, the reason i cite this is to tell you where majority of this nation is standing so that we are heartened and not discouraged. Distracted, maybe but not discouraged. There are leaders among us that are going to lead us in 2016 elections. We werein majority. 62 Million People voted for the current president. 65 million voted against him. Remember these numbers so that you are heartened that majority stands with you even today. Its a matter of using better judgment, remaining heartened and i quickly site three examples. Look at 1940 japanese americancommunity. Hundred and 20,000 of them were interred, families of those men andwomen that were fighting for the United States of america overseas. Their families as an enemy of the nation were interred. Women, children, elderly people. I have visited with them, i have shared with them and i have asked how have you remained part and and a said that it was the love of this country , this nation. Of its values that kept us heartened and when those men and women returned from overseas, 20 metal of honors were awarded to japanese american community. [applause] this is a nation of multiracial democracy. You want to see the proof of it, go to section 60 of arlingtoncemetery. I have extended the invitation to this president , go to section 60. Face the tombstone and you will see all races, all faiths defending this country. That is true america and that is where the majority stands. One more example, throughout my travels i was in chicago. David axelrod took me to a museum where i saw posters that sit in the museum now. Irish need not apply. The only jobs irish immigrants could find was janitorial jobs. No one would hire them. But within 30 years, that is where the example of courage and organization lies. Within 30 years, they elected the first Irish American president of the United States, john f. Kennedy. It is fast. I have seen throughout my travels to your district, too many states, many places how encouraged, how enthusiastic this nation is to get rid of this unconstitutional, illegal rhetoric, unamerican practice. Last election, 2018 election, use all record numbers of people show up to vote and look at the results. Look at the result. This is what is going to happen in2019. We are going to elect, i come from charlottesville virginia. We are going to elect with one vote in the Virginia Assembly, we are going to act a Virginia Assembly minority. We are going to elect in 2020, we are going to repeat 2018. We are going to elect a majority in our senate and throw the demagogue out of the white house. But it will require all of us , all of us to contribute to each and every campaign. I know among us i have met several of the local candidates. You are the hope. You are the organizers at the grassroots level. That is how we are going to build and that is how we are going to win. And organize, remain heartened. I have noticed one more, i know my answer is getting longer but i wish to share this. Wherever there had been a candidate from the Muslim Community, i have felt the spirit of that community at a much higher level than other communities. Become candidates, run for office, run for local office. Run for state offices. That is how we are going to, this bike is not only one election fight. Prepare yourself, prepare your children for this fight to continue. Look, those who chanted at the North Carolina rally, that illegal unconstitutional rally have forsaken the maxims of enlightenment, equality and inclusiveness. They have forsaken not only a United States but in other parts of europe as well. So this election, next election and election after that is going to be a multiracial democracy or democracy only for some. Remain standing, remain encouraged, the old with this phobia. It only as i said to my honorable member of Congress Ilhan at this headwind that is blowing, it is blowing to lift you higher and that is the role of the Muslim Community throughout the nation. The world and this nation looks up to you to lead. You have been chosen. Your time has chosen you. You have a choice whether to face this headwind and fly higher or be defeated. You make the choice for the sake of yourself, for the sake of your children. Make sure that you remain a beacon of hope for the rest of the country. The candle bearers, candle bearers in the darkest of nights do not walk behind. Do not walk on sidelines. They walk and center. Make a decision today, make a decision in your quiet moment. I am going to be that candle error for my community, for this nation and you will see you have made the difference in 2018. You will make the difference in 2019. You will make the difference in 2020. May god be with you. [applause] thank you mister con. Last but certainly not least, the delegate. I get to follow that . I appreciate first of all your powerful piece, thank you for all that you had and for your sacrifice to our country for sure. Ken touched on values, abdul talked about distraction and ilhan strategically said we need to be smart about how we approach all this and its been great before. Before you came in, councilman jones made this proclamation that all of us men, all of us muslim men appear on the stage. We stand with you muslim women are standing very strong and representing a bold voice and moving forward so i want to make sure we get that shout out. From councilman jones. Look, it really is distraction. Right after the civil war in 1865 there was a period of reconstruction and in virginia thousands of africanamericans were elected to the General Assembly and what happened was there was a period of about 20 years where many people of color served and then someone came up with a strategy for distraction. It was a, now poor whites and poor blacks are the same but if we come up with this new strategy of the jim crow laws, we can give this distraction so we can implement these policies that enrich a few folks. And that enrichment as we know continues on until 1929 when the stock market crashes and it was all an economic distraction to pick white versus black. Go back and research it. How many people of color served in the Virginia Assembly and how rich our heritage was and now we fast forward and im so glad that you talk about focusing on values and thinking about being strategic because many times ill just be honest, when the muslim ban came up, i dont want people to defend muslims. I want people to defend the constitution as you talk about, our collective values. This is not america and in the house of delegates there is one document on the wall. Guess what that is . The statute for religious freedom. And its sits right behind my republican friends and it sits there and its a reminder that religious freedom in the western world again in the house of delegates here in virginia. So we need to make sure we recognize these distractions. Push back against them. The bigger battles within ourselves to be able to became but we cant be puppets every time a tweet comes out. H we did just come out, by the way. They had a distractor in chief in italy for example. Silvio for a stony, four years they couldnt figureout tot him. You know what ended up doing and they figured out how to beat him. They ignored him. Andthey focused , were going totalk about what were going to do for america. My challenge is to our democratic party. This is a bold new vision that these four women and manyothers are pushing. And they have made it clear this is were not bringing up the last. Coming from the bottom up. And this is something different. And there has not been a playbook, their writing the book as they go. So please, sometimes, some things may make us feel a little bituncomfortable. But we need to understand that this is a whole new political movement. And thats why so exciting for me to be able to support rasheed, aoc, ilhan and some of these folks they represent something that is uniquely different in our country needed now more than ever, that were going to push back against. Thank you for so much. Food for thought but also i think encouragement to really think about how were showing up and how were taking action. In this case and i resonated with what mister con said. About where the majority in this country stands and its really challenging to see that sometimes but i realize that i was so eager to start hearing from you all that i didnt properly situate myself. I lead an Organization Called shoulder to shoulder which is a coalition of 34 Different National religious denominations and organizations, primarily christian and jewish that formed back in 2010 and continue to be active today in specifically working to dismantle antimuslim discrimination. In order to advance the american ideals that we all rely upon. And through that work ive had the opportunity to go to a lot of different communities around the country and to see how people of faith are responding and showing up and wanting to figure out the ways that they can be showing up with their muslim siblings but also doing their own self reflection on why some of these tropes and myths and bigotry have taken root within their own communities. And so i get inspired by going around the country and seeing what people of faith are doing and im curious to hear from you all and if anyone feels compelled to go first, you dont have to go down the line. But what do you think is helping in this space . What do you see as some of the promising possibilities to change the tide of this kind of onslaught of phobia and hate and i think many of you consider this or started to see to this in your response but im curious to hear more explicitly what you think is helping. Ill call on someone if i need to. At the risk of repeating myself, what had been my first personal observation that throughout the nation i am so positively optimistic about this blessed nation. About its values. That nothing shakes my belief in the Democratic Values of this country. As i mentioned that rally in North Carolina literally except some of my republican brethren and sisters, the rest of the country had rejected it. Spoke against it. And firmly believes that that was not the reflection of our values. So where i will there had been Muslim Leaders in the community, that community is heartened. Strengthened, more politically involved. And is being recognized and is being recognized. Honorable congresswoman is one of the symbols of that recognition. She has an amazing role to play. Hardly anybody new congresswoman ilhan omar prior to her election throughout the world. It is her courage, her work, her determination that has made her a symbol of american democracy, multiracial democracy. Watch history, her name and other colleagues, their names will be written in golden letters on the pages of history because of their courage, because of what they stand for. There is a attack on american Democratic Values, not only american Democratic Values but throughout the world on Democratic Values, especially multiracial Democratic Values and that slowly, it is being rejected. Look at the election in greece and other parts of the country. The pendulum is not slung full in the center towards the center. But it is up to us, the world is looking. Watching america, watching us, how do we represent multiracial democracy henceforth , always consider in the deepest of your heart that every step you take, every part that comes, every conversation that youhave , every contribution that you make, every effort that you may is to defend multiracial mock receipt and if the United States. Thereby heartening the rest of the world that this is the right way for human dignity. And on the other hand, corrupt authorities and dictators that have attacked our election in 2016 are ready to attack again. Regardless of this administrations denial of that interference. Make sure that when you are conducting your conversations , you are very much aware of it. I recently learned that from russia, st. Petersburg and organization was created West Virginia coal miners for trump. Watch all of this event online at cspan. Org, search muslim caucus. Believe this andtake you live to the senate. Theyre expected to vote this afternoon on the 9 11 Victims Compensation fund, live coverage on cspan2