A Word from the Network Against Islamophobia

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Published on Wednesday, 15 June 2016 09:45
Written by editor

Dear PAOV,

All our hearts broke, and continue to break, for the Orlando LGTBQ community, for all LGBTQ communities, and, in particular, for the queer and trans Latinx communities that were the targets of the horrifying attack on Saturday night. We grieve for all those lost and their loved ones, for all those injured and traumatized.

We light candles, say prayers, and hold each other close.

But many politicians and media don’t allow us even our devastation and grief. Too many have refused to acknowledge the role that the homophobic, transphobic, and racist political context of this country plays in creating such tragedy.

Instead, many have used this tragedy to demonize Muslim communities, and all those perceived as Muslim, including LGBTQ members of those communities. This Islamophobia is incredibly dangerous and leads to increased violence and harassment of communities already under attack.

And so, as we light our candles we must also raise our voices, and take to the streets. As LGBTQ people and allies, we rise with the Orlando community and with queer communities across the country. We know we have to fight homophobia, transphobia, racism and Islamophobia at once.

We created JVP’s Network Against Islamophobia (NAI) to provide a space where we can move together into action to fight Islamophobia and build together with communities fighting for justice against multiple forms of oppressions.

We’d like to let you know about our resources and offer some ideas for ways to take action to combat the rampant Islamophobia in the news media and in political responses to this act of incredible homophobic violence.

VISIBILITY

    • T-SHIRTS: We have available for purchase t-shirts that read “Stop Profiling Muslims.” Wearing these shirts at Pride parades, on airplanes, or to the grocery store is a powerful, simple way to stand in solidarity. Members of JVP have already told us about the positive and emotional responses they have gotten from people from Muslim and other communities who have seen them wearing the t-shirts.

    • CANVASSING: You can download and print “Stop Profiling Muslims” posters and get local businesses to post them in their windows. We think this is a really important moment to be doing this and to having our opposition to Islamophobia be as visible as possible. This is part of a very successful campaign begun in January. You can see photos here.

    • OP-EDs and LTEs: Send op-eds or letters to the editor to your local newspaper--moving the conversation away from pro-Islamophobia narratives and toward the power and value of social movements for change and how we have to come together to challenge homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia, all forms of racism, etc.

COMMUNITY BUILDING


  • COALITIONS: Join local coalitions that are working to combat Islamophobia as part of multi-racial, multi-faith community-building.

We can and must push back on the Islamophobic backlash. We can and must engage in challenging Islamophobia as an integral part of our organizing for justice. We can do this, and we must do it today. Please join us.

Yours,
Elly Bulkin & Donna Nevel
Co-founders, JVP’s Network Against Islamophobia

PS. Don’t hesitate to be in touch with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., if you would like to be part of ongoing anti-Islamophobia organizing in JVP or join our google group.

Jewish Voice for Peace is a national membership organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all the people of Israel and Palestine. Become a JVP Member today.

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