Masood Akhtar: Make America safe from domestic terrorism

Our own Masood Akhtar’s op-ed piece, featured in the Cap Times, calls on us all to take a part in speaking out against growing divisiveness and hate-based speech in our country. Nationalist rhetoric promoting fear and demonization of Muslims is fueling distrust and making our country less safe. Rather than singling out one group of people, we need to be singling out hate, violence, and intolerance wherever it is found.

“America is the best country on Earth and a role model for other countries. We all need to work together to protect this country from evil and keep it safe. We have to keep reminding people that it is not white America or black America or brown America. It is the United States of America. We can only keep America safe when we all speak with one voice against those who want to divide or even destroy this country.”

Read the Cap Times Op-Ed

United Against Hate Forum Aug. 3rd in Mt. Horeb

We Are Many – United Against Hate will hold a forum at the District #1 Old Schoolhouse (110 N. 2nd St) in Mt. Horeb on Thursday, August 3 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm.

This forum is a follow up to a “Letter to our Muslim Neighbors” that the Mount Vernon United Church of Christ (MVUCC), Southwest Wisconsin Area Progressives (SWWAP) and the Linda and Gene Farley Center for Peace, Justice & Sustainability presented to leaders in the Muslim community in February 2016. This letter was signed by 400 people. Since then, these three groups were asked to serve as Advisory Board members to the newly formed group. “We are Many – United Against Hate” started by the Advisor to the Madison Muslim Community, Mr. Masood Akhtar. Our three groups participate as the Rural Education Subcommittee of United Against Hate. This will be our first of many educational forums for the local community.

We Are Many – United Against Hate board members Masood Akhtar and John Vaudreuil along with Sheikh Alhagie Jallow and Sarah Schlosser will serve as panelists at the event. This will be a chance for local residents to meet with and aks the panelists questions about their faith, correct misconceptions, and talk about ways we can help welcome our Muslim neighbors.

More details available on our Facebook Event page. We hope to see you there!

Must-Watch Documentary: “Waking in Oak Creek”

This powerful film documents a horrific hate crime against the Sikh community in the town of Oak Creek, Wisconsin and how the aftermath of the event brought the community closer together in unity against hate. It is a great example of how diverse communities can come together to support each other. If we could all start to forge this kind of understanding and appreciation of one another we might be able to avoid tragedies like these to begin with.

We highly recommend taking 35 minutes out of your day to watch this inspiring film presented by Not In Our Town and the U.S. Department of Justice COPS Office.


Click here to watch