[Imc] Muslim students' react/contact
Kranich, Kimberlie
Kranich at WILL.uiuc.edu
Tue Sep 11 20:47:58 UTC 2001
See email below, thanks:
--------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2001 15:28:57 -0500 (CDT)
From: "MSA at UIUC" <bokhari at students.uiuc.edu>
To: msa at uiuc.edu
Subject: PLEASE READ ASAP
AsSalaamAlaikum All,
Please take the time to read this, make du'a and PLEASE do not wander
around campus alone...
Subject: General Tips from sound vision
Media tips for dealing with the
September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks
In the face of the September 11, 2001
terrorist attack on the United States,
Muslims need to be informed, aware and
pro-active when dealing with the American
media, which, in the past, has linked all
Muslims to terrorism when similar incidents
have taken place.
Below is a list of tips Muslims can use when
dealing with the media in these critical
next few weeks.
1. Form a media group in your local
community
Get together with a couple of Muslims in
your community (it can be as few as seven or
eight) to form a Muslim media watch group in
your city. Select a spokesperson. This
person should ideally have some experience
dealing with the media. If not, that's fine,
as long as they feel confident speaking to
the media. This person should be able to
speak English very well, preferably without
a foreign accent and be articulate.
All members of the group should work
together to monitor all of the local media
(radio, television and newspapers) on how
the attack is being covered and if it is
being linked to Islam and Muslims.
2. Issue a strong condemnation of this act
of terrorism
This statement (provide link) must be sent
as soon as possible to the news desk of all
media outlets in your city. Your group's
spokesperson should be ready to handle calls
from reporters who will probably call as a
follow up to the statement.
3. Carefully record and monitor your local
media
Keep an eye out for links that the media may
make between these acts of terrorism and
Islam and Muslims. Clip all articles in the
newspaper that appear about this. Also,
record, if possible, all television and
radio reports about this incident. This way,
you will have proof of
anti-Muslim bias when you approach media
professionals.
4. Contact offending media organizations and
demand a meeting with them
In a polite but firm manner, someone from
your group should contact the editor or head
of the offending news organization to
arrange a meeting about their coverage of
the incident.
5. Keep handy information about past media
transgressions against Muslims
Examples of the media coverage of the 1995
Oklahoma City bombing are good material to
have handy to show editors and journalists
that they should be careful about how they
cover this incident .
Your group should also have on hand
information about Muslim bashers who were
prominent at that time and still are, such
as Steven Emerson.
6. Remind the media to distinguish between
the individual and the entire Muslim
community
Blaming all Muslims for acts of terrorism
committed by one individual or one group is
something which individuals and the media
are likely to engage in during this week.
Remain calm and clearly explain that the
actions of a few do not represent an entire
community. Similar to how Timothy McVeigh,
one of the men responsible for the Oklahoma
City bombing does represent all white
Americans or all individuals of Christian
background.
7. Be polite but firm
Tensions will be running high and if you
also fly off the handle, the situation can
get dangerous. Make sure to remain calm in
the face of these attacks, but polite and
firm when explaining your points. .
Other tips when dealing with the
September 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks
Apart from the possible media attacks on
Muslims, there could very well be harassment
and violence on the part of some Americans.
Regardless of how much we may explain, the
bottom line is, Muslims will have to bear
the brunt of the emotions that run high when
such tragic incidents happen, even if they
are innocent. With this in mind, we would
like to suggest all Muslim individuals,
families and institutions consider
implementing the following tips:
1. Make Dua (supplication to Allah)
There is no power or ability except with
Allah. He is our Protector and He is in
control. Make Dua that everything works out
in the best way with this situation and that
Muslims are vindicated.
2. Protect yourself and your family
If you are a visible Muslim (i.e. have a
beard, wear Hijab, etc.) be careful. If
possible, avoid going out too often except
when necessary. Travel in groups as much as
possible to avoid being alone and thus
possibly the target of angry gangs.
In addition, make sure to lock all doors to
your home at all times and avoid sitting or
sleeping near windows of the house
(individuals may try to throw things through
them).
If you have children be careful when
dropping them off to school and for the next
few days, try to avoid letting them play
outside.
3. Protect Masjids, Islamic centers and
Islamic schools
These three institutions are a favorite
target of those who harass and intimidate.
All of these institutions' administrators
should arrange for extra security measures
and try to get police protection for the
next week at least.
4. Have a family meeting about this
In your home, hold a family meeting about
this issue. Everyone should be included,
even small children. Discuss what has
happened, the Islamic position on it, as
well as what measures everyone can and must
take to protect themselves in the coming
weeks.
Also discuss how to deal with the topic if
it comes up at work or school. Remind
children to inform you if their teachers or
classmates harass them about the incident.
In addition, discuss positive strategies you
can take as a family to maintain good
relations with your neighbors at this time.
5. Record incidents of harassment
If you are harassed at work, school or in a
business, write everything down. Note down
the date, time and place, as well as what
was said or done that constituted
harassment.
After this, contact organizations like the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
in Washington, DC so that they can do a more
thorough investigation and include it in
their yearly report on Muslim civil rights
in America next year.
Also, contact the manager or head of the
company and lodge a formal complaint about
the incident.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assalam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu
In light of recent news-breaking events the Executive committee of MSA
National is calling on the muslim student community around the US and
Canada
to exercise caution on their college and university campuses.
We all MSA chapters to try and mobilize students to look after each others
welfare over the next few days. Students should report any incident of
harassment, whether verbal or physical in writing to the University
security
office and the Dean of student life.
More importantly in addition to making dua for each other, we ask that all
of you make dua that the Muslims in North America unite and support each
other during these difficult times.
In addition, the American Muslim Political Coordination Council (AMPCC)
issued the following statement today:
The American Muslim Political Coordination Council (AMPCC)*, today
condemned
the apparent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and offered
condolences to the families of those who were killed or injured.
wa salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatu
Executive Committee
MSA National of US and Canada
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kranich, Kimberlie
> Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2001 11:49 AM
> To: 'imc at urbana.indymedia.org'
> Subject: Suggestion for Monday NewsHour
>
> Just a thought for those who will be producing the NewsHour news segment
> that's air on WEFT on 9/17:
>
> One part of one angle to a story about today's tragedy might be to speak
> with Muslims at the Islamic Center in town. Accusations about Arabs being
> responsible for today's attack might result in a backlash to members of
> this community. Hatred against Arabs increased in 1993 when Arabs were
> accused of bombing the Murrah Federal Building. Have local police met
> with local Arabs to ascertain if they are at risk, feel uncomfortable,
> etc.?
>
> Kimberlie
>
>
>
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