The pavilion im sure to make sure that people did as they were told there are lots of wonderful women who will be joining the conversation as well. We have just over an hour to hear from some of the muslims leading the conversation and our topic is justice is all of our issue. I will keep introductions brief actually dont even have everybodys introduction so you can tell little bit about yourselves from those you have not heard from yet but we want to give time to actually hear from these leaders in the issues we are be joined by representative omar when she arrives. Now second from the and a physician and Public Health expert and activist among any other many other things ran for governor in 2018 with progressive endorsements. To his right father who lost his son in the 2004 iraq war it is most pronounced for his compelling speech about the constitution and inclusion in this country at the dnc. From the state of virginia he can talk more about himself and you have the opportunity just a few minutes ago to hear from others i would like to open this for each of you to give a sense of how you think of the role of phobia thinking of xenophobia and other forms of bigotry and fear in the current Political Climate in a specific question is how does this shape how you show up and do your work quicksand perhaps the limits on how you are able to show up and do your work along with opportunities i would like to start. Go ahead. First, let me say i believe im only the nonmuslim on the stage so i have my own White Privilege here but that doesnt prevent me from seeing the phobia that exists throughout our communities both in minnesota and frankly throughout the country. There are many ways it manifests itself in politics specifically. We see what has been happening with this rise of islam of phobia that has impacted politics in minnesota and people engaging in division and divisive language and hate speech, violence, a bombing at the mosque in minneapolis. We have had many incidents of hate crimes in minnesota against candidates and members of the Muslim Community. We have a very large Muslim Community in minnesota and we are proud of that community but our political leaders were not too stoic they have this hatred but to stand up with our brothers and sisters to immediately denounce and reject any form of racism or bigotry yours you know phobia. But more prevalent in just the Muslim Community, we see all forms of phobia on the rise whether homophobia, xenophobi homophobia, xenophobia, and other forms of hate. Again, one thing that i would ask people is, what are American Values . What has always brought people to our shores . The statue of liberty. The beacon of light around the world that have brought so many people to this country with the idea no matter where you are, where you are fro from, race, ethnicity, you have the opportunity to succeed. Here comes my congresswoman now. [cheers and applause] i will stop talking. [laughter] thank you so much i am privileged to be joined by representative omar serves as us representative for the Fifth District together as one of the first muslim women to be elected to the u. S. Congress. We are so grateful to have her join this conversation. Said she just arrived i will not give you the question just yet you can think that i am asking folks to consider to give a sense of how you think of the role of xenophobia and islam of phobia and other forms of bigotry and fear in the current claimant and how you are able to do your work and the limitations and opportunity that the current Political Climate provides. I dont mean to pick apart the frame of the question but how do i think about it, i try not to think about it because as Toni Morrison reminds us it is distraction. Dont get distracted. Thats not to say donate knowledge that it dont exist it would be dangerous not to. That the goal of their enterprises to distract us and lets not get distracted. I want to focus not necessarily on the impact that phobias have an muslim candidates and i have to tell you what that is but what is the opportunity of what we are doing . If i want to ask the point of what we are doing a go to the founding documents starting with the three simple words. We the people. In order to form a more Perfect Union. Ask yourself about the concept of more perfect. Because perfection is you are or you are not so how are you more perfect . How do you get more perfect . You have to go back to the first three words, we the people. And then the last one, union. Perfecting at creating a union out if we the people that we will show up and create space for other folks. Thats the point progress far as we can see this phobia or any phobia to be against people of color or women or people who love identify a different way, any of those phobias is what we are to be addressing so we are tearing down those phobias. Thats the point and if thats the point that we have an amazing opportunity to decide if we will play our part in that point to create out of many, one. I decide not to focus on it because it is a point of distraction but i do see it as an object the fact that our goal is to break down because it gets in the way of doing what it is we are supposed to do in the first place. [applause] and just a brief announcemen announcement. If you would remind please stay seated because we have media in the back who cannot see if the audiences standing. Representative omar. With you dealing all of these phobias that continue to come up and clearly that has shaped much of how you show up in your work so we are curious to hear your reflections on that. Thank you. Good morning everyone. I think about these phobias as a process and often times its like what we were talking about to undo and combat other ring but to build community and for someone who is fairly other in many ways, i know what Building Community has meant for me and my community with the wonderful state that i represent its a very cold state but they have warm hearts. And you can see we are making history and we are perfecting that a more Perfect Union can exist we understand what we the people are capable of. And if you are stuck in defending the identity you will be distracted from the work of building. I know that for many people will say these phobias need to be talked about. And understand the significance to be complacent in the process of not talking about them or to be distracted that resonates with me because that distracts racism so that we also have confronted that so often so many people walk around naive to the idea how threatening this can be. We see that creep into so many policies like when we talk about the people say the president s remarks are racist but forget the inherent racism that has always been a part of him and how much he always takes the opportunity to vilify others and destroy their existence and the ability to access our Justice System even going back to the exonerated central park five young boys. Going out of your way to ask for lynching innocent young men and to have the full support of society and the media to say somebody is just angry to be called lynching for young people makes us recognize how we got here today. Because we have excused all of that that somebody is speaking out of turn so we will allow them to say this and we forget that this system that continues to vilify us in the process to eliminate our existence in many aspects of society. So at least for me i will not allow for that to distract me but im interested in taking it to task because if we dont confront it we will be stuck here for another generation and i dont think i can withstand allowing my children and their children to exist in the pains that i have existed in and many others like me have existed in. [applause] thank you representative. Next what are your reflections on the same issue and how we grapple with that quick. Before i share my sentiment and my thoughts, i wish to pay tribute to representative omar. Honorable. [applause] i am okay now. They say dont worry about the headwind. It blows to make you fly higher. Remember that whenever you are distracted. In North Carolina it wasnt representative of the United States at the rally at the airport in minnesota when you came back was representative of the United States. [applause] fortunately ive been to richmond so many times to make sure we elect the majority and the same thing representative from minnesota and is dear to me. Today is my 254th speaking engagement. And the reason i cite this is to tell you where the majority of this nation stands so that we are heartened and not discouraged, distracted may be, but not discouraged. There are those among us who will lead us in the 2016 election we were in the majority. 62million people voted for the current president. 65million voted against him. Remember these numbers so you know the majority stands with you even today. And is a matter of using better judgment to remain hardened and i quickly cite three examples. Look at 1940 japanese american community. 120,000 of them interned those men and women fighting for the United States of america overseas, their families as an enemy of the nation were interned. Women, children, elderly. I have shared with them and i will have you remain heartened that it was the love of this country and its values that kept us heartened when those men and women returned from serving 23 medals of honor were given to the japanese community. [applause] this is a nation of multiracial democracy. If you want to see the proof go to section 60 of Arlington Cemetery i have extended that invitation to this president and you will see all races, all faith defending this country. That is the true america. That is where the majority is. One more example, i was in chicago David Axelrod took me to a museum where i saw posters the irish need not apply. The only jobs immigrants could find was the janitorial jobs because nobody would hire them but within 30 years that is an example of courage they elected the first Irish American president of the United States jfk. [applause] it is that fact that i have considered and i have seen throughout my travels to your districts and too many states and places how encouraged, how enthusiastic this nation is to get read of this unamerican practice from the area 2018 election. You saw a Record Number of people showing up to vote. And look at the result this is what will happen in 2019. Coming from charlottesville virginia, he will one we will elect the virginia assembl assembly. We will elect in 2020 and repeat 2018 and elect the majority in our senate and throw the demagogue out of the white house but that will require all of us to contribute to each and every campaign and i know among us i have met candidates. You are the hope. The organizers at the grassroots level. That is how we will build and that is how we will win and organize and remain heartened. I have noticed i know my answer is getting longer, but if i had been a candidate from the Muslim Community i felt the spirit of that community at a much higher level than other communities from the candidates run for office, run for local office. Run for state office. That is how this fight, is not only a one election fight. Prepare yourself and prepare your children for this fight to continue. Those who chanted at the North Carolina rally that unconstitutional rally, they have forsaken the maxims of enlightenment and equality and inclusiveness. Not only in the United States but in other parts as well. So this election, next election in the election after that would be for multiracial democracy only for some but remain standing and remain encouraged it is only as i have said to my honorable member of congress that this headwind is blowin blowing, it is blowing to lift you higher and that is the role of the Muslim Community throughout the nation and the world than the nation as we look to you to lead. You have been chosen. Your time has chosen you. You have a choice to face this headwind and fly higher or be defeated. You make the choice for the sake of yourself and your children make sure you remain a beacon of hope for the rest of the country in the darkest of night do not walk behind or solid lines they walk front and center and to make the decision in this moment i will be the candle they are for my community for this nation and you will see you have made the difference in 2018 and 2019 and 2020. May glide may god be with you. Thank you. [applause] thank you. And last but not least. Thank you so much. I hate to follow that. [laughter] while i appreciate your powerful speech, thank you for all you have done in your sacrifice to our country for sure, to touch on valid values and then distraction from the core strategically saying we need to be careful how we approach all of this and it has been great but before you came in there was a proclamation that all of us muslim men and adopted muslim men of here on the stage we stand with you muslim women who are strong in representing a bold voice. Want to make sure we get that shout out it really is a distraction of 1865 with dozens of africanamericans and there was a period of about 20 years where people of color and then somebody came up with a strategy for distraction. Hey now poor whites and poor blacks are the same but if we come up with a new strategy of jim crow laws we can give the status and the implement these policies to enrich a few folks that continues on through 1929 in the stock market crash and it was all an economic distraction go back and research how many people of color actually served the General Assembly in virginia and now we fast forward i want people to defend muslims. Error collective values and in the house of delegates there was one document and guess what that is . The statute for religious freedom. With that religious freedom in the western world began in the house of delegates and here in virginia. And then the battle within ourselves we cannot be a puppet every time a tweet comes out which one did just come out by the way. But for years to defeat him they figure out how to beat him they ignored him. What we will do for america. Misses a bold vision we are pushing and to make it clear that we are coming from the bottom up. This is different. So please sometimes make us feel a little uncomfortable but this is a whole new Political Movement and thats why its so exciting for me to support some of these folks that represent something that is uniquely different. Differen. To see that sometimes, that i realized i was so eager to start hearing from you all i didnt properly situate myself. I lead an Organization Called shoulder to shoulder that is a coalition of 34 Different National denominations in organizations primarily christian and jewish that formed back in 2010 and continues to be active today in specifically working to dismantle antimuslim discrimination. In order to advance the american ideals that we all rely upon and ive had the opportunity to go to a lot of different communities around the countrys embassy hel how people of faithe responding and showing up and are 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 have taken root within their own communities. 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, we 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 hinted at this or started to speak to this in your response or last question but im curious to hear more explicitly what you think is helping. Would have been my 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 would really accept some of my republican brothers and sisters the rest of the country have rejected it and spoke against it and firmly believes that wasnt the reflection of our values. Wherever there had been Muslim Leaders in the community the community is hard and hardened, strength and more politically involved and is being recognized. The honorable congresswoman is one of the symbols of that recognition. She has an amazing role to play. Hardly anybody knew the congresswoman prior to her election throughout the country, throughout the world. It is her courage, her work, her determination that has made her symbol of american democracy multiracial democracy. Watch history. Her name and other colleagues, their names will be written, golden letters on the pages of history because of the courage, because of what they stand for. There is an attack on american Democratic Values, not only american Democratic Values, but throughout the world especially multiracial Democratic Values. And slowly it is being rejected. Look at the election in greece and other parts of europe. The pendulum has not swinging towards the center. The world is watching us how do we represent multiracial democracy henceforth always consider in the deepest of your heart at every step you take, every thought that comes income every conversation that you have, every contribution you make, every effort you make is to defend multiracial democracy in the United States thereby hardening the rest of the world but this is the right way to human dignity. And on the other hand are corrupt authoritarians and dictators that have attacked our election in 2016 and ready to attack again regardless the denial of that interference. I recently learned that from russia, st. Petersburg and organization was created. West virginia coal miners for trump. St. Petersburg russia. It is that interference that is taking place. Watch out for that. Hitler came to power through election. Remember that. As i mentioned japaneseamericans, catholic americans. It is ba bad public debate that took place after the mistreatment of the mccarthy era came the role of our civil rights leaders that uplifted the entire nation and mankind to a higher dignity. Your role has already been decided and chosen for you. Accept that ive been chosen to lead. Look at the courage, look at the courage she has become the symbol of courage for this nation. If you knew who she was. It is that which lies ahead for each and every one of us. When i get tired of traveling and speaking for thousands of men and women that defend the country, i traveled to Arlington Cemetery section 60 i go and stand. They died defending these issues into their tombstones speak to us. We died defending the multiracial democracy. How dare you dont stand for it. [applause] sorry for the long answer, but your time has chosen i is choosd every one of you. In your mission and carrying this light really quietly bow your head and continued t and ck forward, continue to walk and make sure you take people with you to vote, to register and you will see that. It took 30 years for the Irish Americans to elect the first president from signs throughout the United States i am sure you have seen the pictures of the rallies on the streets of washington. Not too long ago, but immediately after that came the role and sacrifice and service of the leaders that uplifted this entire nation. It is the role that you are about to play that each and every one of you have that sacredness of lifting the human dignity. Defeating the hate and division, corrupt. There have been challenges in the past. Remember those communities that have dealt with that hate and division and have been successful. Thank you. [applause] its good to think of everything in the context of where weve been and where we continue to go. I just want to sort of uplift the stories of unity between faith groups thats being done in minnesota and that allowed for us to have the kind of success that we have had in our state. Correct me if im wrong but i remember early in 2018 the Republican Party decided in the caucuses they were going to pass out flyers that said muslims were infiltrating the Republican Party to gain something. I cant quite put my finger on it. I dont do with the game might have been. There were multiple state representatives participated in the fear mongering and organizations like isaiah ended up together muslims, people from the Muslim Community, the jewish community, people from different denominations face and decided we were collectively going to form a coalition to try to make sure that people didnt have the fear of participating in our democracy. And so, i remember there being h. Infiltration because people flooded the caucuses and realized when people tell you you dont belong, you make sure that your presence is seen and heard. In the process, i think that was probably the first time the faith groups in minnesota decided to make their presence known in a way that it hasnt before. And i think it is because of them that we have a democratic governor and it is because of them my predecessor is now the attorney general. I think it is because of that coalition that we no longer have goes republican representatives of participated in that fear mongering and i think it is because of them that someone like me could get elected in our state with all of the orchestrated fears against me and keith. It is to say when we bond together and understand our opportunities to build Community Rise from the most painful places that we are able to have the kind of celebrations that he is in minnesota. And i want to make sure people in every single state that feel the intensity of the division and they can do the work of the community and you know, figuring out what are the values that unite them and that we all participate in our democracy. We have a responsibility to not only go and put our voice and at the ballot box but we have a responsibility to bring along every Single Community members so that they are able to do that as well. We might not be able to create the kind of impact that we want, but if the kind of vitriol thats met with people like myself exists in american society, why bother. But i believe it is because of that that you should bother. Every single time we have infused the calling of multicultural democracy that we find into the system its always been met with challenges and because people have forced themselves to face those challenges head on tha but we ae still able to represent our communities across this country. So i say to you dont allow this to diminish your voice. Make sure that you use this energy to make yourself visible and have more courage to be more bold because with this particular challenge we have an opportunity to rise markedl more had arisen before. [applause] you asked what is helping and i want to highlight that. She did it takes to stand in against all of what is coming at the folks leading to the congresswoman and her part, thank you for taking that on. Its not just the courage of leaders. For a long time they talk about the fact we didnt believe the process both for us. Oor useor use of the british aro this and find out whats going on in the media you can just barge into the door. For a long time, these conversations are so fundamental to our ability to exist and to be and to do an and aspired the open society were being done without our exclusion and the worst thing about it i is a lotf that exclusion happens at the hands of people who say that they care about you. So it takes courage to stand up and say you are not going to decide my future without me present. In fact i will be the one who decide my future, nokia. [applause] at the end of the day, as i think about raising my blogrol l come it will never be what i want until the people that look like are making decisions about her come up wit, with her and f. [applause] its also the courage of people to stand up and be willing to follow. I remember when i decided i was going to run, the most consistent opposition i got was from the Muslim Community. But, this is a redemption story now. What happened is that over time coming as we started to build momentum, i remember specifically one of the uncles in the community that just couldnt believe somebody that looked like me the name 11 letters long s long through balo truncated long through ball by two truncated in the middebate committal cudahy comes up to be in the middle of the rally and says these white people really like you. [laughter] and he showed up at every single rally thereafter. On the one hand, it is frustrating to know that we need the validation of others to believe in our own people. But at the same time i have to credit him because in the end, when he came along, he came along. So, you have to be willing to appreciate that this is a government of people. God doesnt run this government, people run this government and people all kind of look like us and the sad thing is being yourself you know that are intimately all of your failings in frustration and things about you that are not quite right. All of the bumps and warts that you dont show the will of the things that you are sitting there like i am in perfect and they are clearly perfect, so theres that. They are not perfect. We are not perfect. We are going to get it wrong and make mistakes but we have ticketed to realize the benefit is making mistakes in the public eye, those mistakes matter because it really actually matters to people from our community see us doing the hard work of government. Being a part of the solution that will dictate their futures. So to me it is the courage of the leaders to lead and people who follow to follow and i see that happening in local communities on big platforms all the time and that means the world we are going to hand off to my little girl is going to be one where she feels like she belongs in ways i know i felt like i didnt and even before we, so thats happening. [applause] i know theres much more to say, but i kno i never thought the fn the crowd would like to ask questions. We have a very brief amount of time so i ask you to please keep it to a question and keep it concise. Im going to take three questions and then pitch it back as you wish again briefly so that we can keep folks on time today. I saw your hand and your hand. Im sorry im going to get a little bit towards the back. Go ahead. Yes. Yes. Thank you. And the president of muslims for progressive values. The question is to the congresswoman theres two issues one is when they were fantasizing about stoning in the name of islam. We have an oped against the simpkins abbott is an antithesis against a muslim organization. Youve proposed you have a legislation that you have drafted sanctioning or punishing anyone in america who does business with a country that implements stoning and i want to know what the statu the status t legislation is. The other is on female genital mutilation. The law was 20yearsold etc. I would like to know will you be able to make a statement against them because it is an issue. It would be really powerful if a muslim congresswoman, you would make a statement on this issue. We will collect to more and then go back to you all. Yes, please. I represent veterans against hate. Let me say your son is an American Hero and anyone who feels otherwise has obviously never served. [applause] since we are lucky enough to have the congresswoman here i want to bring up one issue. We have veterans being deported very sadly. Would you support legislation that would require the military to ensure noncitizens of endless are guided through the process bso by the time they leave the military they are fullfledged 100 american citizens . The woman i woven in yellow. Thank you. As i was listening to do all i have a question for all of you. We were talking about phobia but how are we going to fight against the phobia that ou sovin brothers and sisters have against undocumented immigrants and help the fight against the internalized racism. They have against themselves and other groups like blacklight is matter and lgbtqi community. This past i know he walked in a pride parade. I just want all of you to kind of touch base on how we do that. Please go ahead and speak to what you are able and then i hope that theres opportunity throughout pockets for conversation deepening some of these conversations as well. Thank you for the excellent question. We have proposed legislation around veterans who served the country and people that are still active. Thereve been many cases where people have been deported, and there are i think 500 right now in the process of being deported. So, completely support making sure that people who mad the pet kind of sacrifice for the country are able to stay in our country. So, we are working with some of our leagues that are sponsoring a few bills around that. With regards to the variety o bill, yobill, you can help educr it. It doesnt have a lot of support in congress because there is a lot of objection coming from any of the countries that do what the bill opposes and many of those countries have a lot of fun is in congress. So, it would really be nice if many of you educated for it and made sure that that bill is a priority. I think when we are talking about defending human rights, we have to do that regardless of where it is. And i feel strongly about what the bill speaks to its purpose, so i hope that you will join me in doing that. Your second question is an appalling question because i always feel like there are those that the vote on, builds the sponsor, many statements we put out and then we are in a panel like this and the question is posed. Could you do this, and its like how often should i make a schedule, like this needs to be on repeat every five minutes, like today i forgot to condemn al qaeda, so heres the al qaeda one today. You know what i mean come it is a really frustrating question that comes up. You can look at my record. I voted for bills doing exactly what youre asking he to do. I have put out statements upon statement. There is a bill in congress there is a resolution by many my call authomanycoauthored love t of the Foreign Affairs committee, so i am i think quite disgusted to be hones honest bus muslim legislators we are constantly being asked to waste our time speaking to issues that other people are not asked to speak to because the assumption exists that we somehow support and that we are for coming you know there is an assumption. So, i want to make sure the next time someone is then an audience and looking at me that they ask the proper questions that they will probably ask any member of congress or any legislator or any publication. [applause] and would not come with an accusation that we might support something that is so evil and so vile. What we look for, and with this whole conversation is about him is that not only do we have internalized views about what we might believe and how that gets implemented, but that we also dont have assumptions about what our value basis might be because thats wher of where wee on in who we prey. And the uncle comes up to me and and says 100 percent. [laughter] i said let me explain. Appear because i flew when my official and unofficial i flew in on the constitution when i defend my lgb team members lgbt members i am defending muslims and women and africanamericans. [applause] succumbing back to those common values do not get distracted and every single time i heard the speak they are on the right side of history do not be on the wrong side of history is great to be on this panel with people who are on the right side of history today. [applause] i know this is a last for me that i want to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the board and the volunteers for organizing this event. We are sincerely grateful to you all. Thank you. [applause] this is my personal belief and practice time after time after time meaning i have created every being on this planet so every human being created in equal dignity the designation nobody was excluded the that everyone is included. That is why the time has come to muslims to leave the constitution or basic human dignitys. So if we practice our faith in that spirit. Thank you. I just want to tell you a story. Everybody knows who president Lyndon Johnson is. L lbj has no political skills except for politics. He understood how people thought and how he could persuade them. Sometimes good or bad or ugly but he knew how to persuade people he had never ran before when he ran in texas. Is that the next time you see the press corps tell them that this farmer is having relations and they said thats not true he said i know i just want to hear them deny it. So every time that farmer would meet with the press to know he would start with rex . I just want to make it clear i am not having relations with my pigs. If i tell you dont think of an elephant what do you think of . And elephant. So when we get in this position where we deny all of the allegations to say yes i am a muslim candidate. Yes i will speak to all the stereotypes you have about me. And thats the only thing we talk about. So when we started we agreed it is distraction that you start to fall into the frame of the distraction itself. All you are doing is speaking to the system. So that point that you made is entirely correct. It is a because wanted to make sure that muslims are all are against any way. That because there are people in our communities that have healthcare its too hard to get a job or because inequality is through the roof. [applause] with corporate greed we can do something about. What has its particular perspective. And our engagement so there is no question whether or not we stand up with our allies who know who you choose to love this is a question those who love different or pray different can be included. This is about advocating for ourselves because we advocate for the constitution and i wi be clear that we as a community have to decide if we are willing to system sustain these double standards over issues from a long time ago and then to legalize marijuana on technical technical fronts that marijuana is a drug. I say i know but i dont see you standing up for alcohol prohibition so why the double standard . Can i dont see you standing up for alcohol prohibition so why the double standard . Can so to be on the moral grounds so our responsibility is to infuse that in something bigger if you step back to the founding of our faith you look at the way he led his life and realize the message was his character the way he engage people and the empathy to look somebody who was an and vowed survey bring somebody into the political frame it should be that character to said i was a sent to insist on the best of good character. We have to ask ourselves, what is it we are leaning on . What is the spirit of the message we are bringing with us in these conversations . Because frankly if all of us brought that character of the best of everybody and kind no matter the disagreement and always believe in the redemptive capacity where we should go to take that with us . The question goes away. We answered that. [applause] we have just gone a little bit over time. I am sorry but please join me to thank our incredible panel of leaders. [applause] [inaudible conversations]