--FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE--

Advisory:  Mayoral Candidates to Square off for the First-Time on Issues Affecting NY Muslims, Arabs and South Asians

(New York City, NY – 5/1/13) – Amidst one of the most contested mayoral elections in the recent history of New York City, candidates will take to the stage to address issues facing American Muslim, Arab and South Asian (MASA) community members at a mayoral forum hosted by the Arab American Association of New York and the Islamic Center at New York University. This November will be the first time in 12 years that New Yorkers head to the polls to elect a new mayor to lead the City and bring necessary reforms on issues important to MASA communities including religious freedom, civil liberties, public safety, education and immigration.

MASA communities continue to grow and become increasingly active in the civic process. In a recent article about the upcoming elections, the New York Times called Muslims a "long-neglected" community (See: http://nyti.ms/ZTUsn6).

Who: Mayoral candidates Sal Albanese, Adolfo Carrion Jr., Bill de Blasio, John C. Liu, Christine C. Quinn (invited), Erick Salgado,William Thompson, and members of the Arab American Association of New York, Islamic Center at NYU, Alliance of South Asian American Labor, Coalition for Muslim School Holidays, Interfaith Center of NY, Islamic Circle of North America-NY, Muslim Bar Association of NY, Network of Arab-American Professionals of NY, UNITED SIKHS               
What: "NYC 2013: Electing the Right(s) Mayor" - A Mayoral Forum Moderated by NY1’s Errol Louis
When: Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 2pm (Doors Open at 1:30pm)
Where: NYU’s Global Center for Academic & Spiritual Life, 5th Floor, 238 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012
Contact: Aliya Latif, aliyaplatif@gmail.com, 732-429-4268; Faiza N. Ali, alinfaiza@gmail.com, 718-724-3041

This forum is a non-partisan event meant for educational purposes. RSVP is Required.

-END-

The AAANY is a non-profit grassroots social service and advocacy organization located in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, dedicated to serving and empowering Arab-American, Arab immigrant and Muslim communities. 

The Islamic Center at NYU is the first fully established center for Muslim Life at a major university in the United States and is dedicated to fostering a sense of awareness, activism and scholarship amongst the Muslim community both on and off NYU's campus.

Zain Memon, Rashida Kamal and Redwan Hussain were each named one of the 15 most influential students at NYU in 2012.  A profile for each student is featured in today's Washington Square News Article entitled  Most Influential Students 2012.  To read the entire article in full, please click here.  

Please share with your contacts and leave a comment on the WSN website. 

Muneeb Syed
Student, NYU

This past weekend, I had the privilege of volunteering with a couple of friends in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. This area was designated region A and the reasons were obvious days after. Brighton Beach had water levels as high as five feet, flooding just about every basement in the neighborhood. Many families lived in these basements, and now found themselves homeless. The streets were filled with their damaged belongings and valuables. Many just sat outside their homes trying to figure out what to do next. Clearly the water and food that we had to offer wasn't going to be enough. And yet when we offered it to them, there was such a sense of gratitude and appreciation on their part.

One particular woman was tirelessly cleaning her basement when we arrived at her place. As we told her who we were and the few items we could offer her, she read off a list of other families in the area who needed the goods much more than her. But she concluded by admitting that, "in a few days I may be in need of food and water." The innocence of her statement was incredible. She could've simply taken what we offered at that very moment and stored it for later but she passed it up because she was conscious of others who were in more dire need at that very moment. Her concern even in such trying circumstances was inspiring.

Sadly enough these New Yorkers who had their basements flooded and property damaged weren't even the worst hit. This highlights the severity of the storm. Hurricane Sandy was responsible for the death of 48 New Yorkers and over 100 individuals worldwide. For a lot of families, the possibility of a complete recovery is impossible. There's nothing that can be said or done to a mother who lost a child that will bring her any justice. That's the value of a life and this storm was responsible for providing such a devastating blow to many families.

The MTA will shut down all subway, bus, and commuter railroad service at 7 PM, Sunday. For more information, visit the MTA website.

Imam Khalid Latif | University Chaplain | New York University

Executive Director | Islamic Center at New York University

Phone: 212.998.4712 | Email: kl442@nyu.edu | www.icnyu.org

238 Thompson Street | Suite 491 | New York, NY 10012 | USA

Department Chaplain / Inspector | NYPD | Phone: 646.234.5517

  

Recently, Imam Khalid Latif, Executive Director and Chaplain of the Islamic Center at NYU, wrote an Op-Ed published by CNN entitled My Take: Muslims Must Engage Politically, Look Outside Themselves. To read the entire article in full, please click here.  

Please share with your contacts and leave a comment on the CNN website. 

Muslim Americans must exercise their right to vote and be part of the process, says Khalid Latif.

My Take: Muslims must engage politically, look outside themselves

Editor's Note: Imam Khalid Latif is a chaplain for New York University and executive director of the school's Islamic Center.

By Khalid Latif, Special to CNN

My wife and I were on our way into Bed, Bath and Beyond in late August when I decided to check my office voicemail from my cell phone. I told her I'd meet her inside. When I did, she asked whether I had any messages.

"Just one,” I told her. “I was asked to deliver an invocation at this year's Republican National Convention." She responded with a smile on her face, "Of course you were," and then showed me the pillows she’d selected.

I didn't get a chance to decide whether I would accept the invitation, as Hurricane Isaac changed the RNC schedule and made the decision for me. But before the impending storm blew me off the schedule, I sought advice from friends and colleagues. What were the implications of my participating at the RNC? Would it make sense?

One conservative, evangelical Republican friend told me that it would have been a great way to start a conversation with members of his party who are fed up with the current platform and, amongst other things, the party’s highly anti-Muslim and Islamophobic rhetoric. Now, it seemed, that conversation wouldn't happen.

But I couldn't understand why it must take a Muslim standing on an RNC stage to get people talking. Is that really the only way a Muslim voice can be heard in the political arena? Realistically, it's not. The other options just require more time, strategy and patience....to continue reading, please click here.