Recently, there was another legislation session in a different state that opened with Muslim prayers where two law makers show indifference to it. That was perfectly alright. Cair, on the other hand, took it very offensively which was very interesting. Instead of see how much the glass was full they looked at the situation upside down. I would have liked them to see the importance of that event and the presentation of and the presence of Muslim Imam to open the session with Islamic prayer. That event was significant.
We have another similar event about to take place in Texas on March 18th. Here’s the statement from the foundation called “The freedom and Justice Foundation” to that effect. This event is significant due to the place it will be held… in the heart of the bible belt of America. Slowly, step by step, we will make bigger and bigger strides. The day will, insha-Allah, come when people would know that we don’t worship trees, cows, or stones. The difference will come by tireless actoins of the few for the benefit of the masses of Muslims. They are truely our heros.
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THE FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOUNDATION
“1ST Annual Texas Muslims Legislative Day”
March 18th 2003
“1st Annual Texas Muslims Legislative Day”, what does it mean for you?
The Freedom and Justice Foundation has declared Tuesday March 18, 2003 to be the “1st Annual Texas Muslims Legislative Day”. Due to the tireless efforts of State Representative Lon Burnum (Fort Worth) and Hadi Jawad (Dallas Muslim Peace Activist), Imam Moujahed Bakhach from the Islamic Association of Tarrant County (IATC) will be performing the opening prayer at the State Legislature in Austin on March 18th at 10 AM in the State Capitol. Imam Bakhach is a graduate from the prestige 1,000 years old Al-Azhar University and a long time member of the Fort Worth Muslim Community, and we are honored to have him representing us. Muslims from around the state are urged to attend and watch from the Gallery as Imam Bakhach opens up the Legislative session with a Muslim prayer. This is the first time that a Muslim Religious leader is conducting this prayer in Texas, and is a testament to Muslims being full-fledged members of the Texas Faith Community.
Sunday June 9th, 2002 is the day when Muslim political activism in Texas changed. More than 60 Muslim organizations from North Texas came together that day to put on the largest Political Rally ever done by American Muslims. Under the banner of “I am a Muslim, I am an American, I Vote”; more than 7,000 Muslims stood at Texas Stadium in Irving as a testament to being a strong bloc vote in Texas as had been established on the National level in the year 2000 election. Dozens of politicians attended, and those that weren’t able to sent aides or spouses in their place.
There are an estimated 7 Million Muslims in America, and more than 400,000 in Texas. Media reports on the Muslim Ballot Box BBQ of June 9th, 2002 were Nationwide with many other cities holding similar events later that year. Many politicians and government officials took note of this sizable voting block, and Muslims were able to interview most of the major candidates one-on-one for the public radio show the BBQ Working Group ran. Muslims even received an invitation from Governor Perry to conduct his interview at the Governor’s Mansion.
If our success was due by unifying North Texas, than why not reach out Statewide? It dawned on us during the last election; that if everything we were able to accomplish so far was because we brought Muslim political activists from many organizations to work for the same goals then why don’t we extend this outreach statewide instead of just North Texas, since many elections are statewide any how? We created the Freedom and Justice Foundation (F&J) last November specifically for this purpose. F&J is a Texas based Educational Non-Profit that educates Muslims about how to become more effective participatory citizens in our democracy by networking with other Muslim and Non-Muslim political activists around the state working on Freedom and Justice issues that are of interest to the American Muslim Community. F&J is strictly a statewide organization and not a national organization. F&J just coordinates between many different activists so that greater successes can by achieved by Muslim political activists here in Texas. Once this statewide model shows its success, other states can field their own F&J like organization.
*Are you providing the transportation to Austin for this event, and what’s the program of events for that day?
There are buses leaving from Dallas County (Richardson), Tarrant County (Arlington), and Harris County (Houston). The Greater Austin Community is advised to arrive at the State Capitol and be in the Gallery by 9:45 AM. We highly encourage you to join us in supporting Imam Bakhach, and using this opportunity to meet with your legislatures to express your opinions about any and all issues. Other communities in Texas hold “Legislative Days”, and we believe that Muslims should participate as well. The program of events is listed below:
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM: Arrival at the State Capitol by bus or car. Parking is available in the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th streets.
Parking is free for the first two hours and $.75 for each half hour thereafter (maximum daily charge:
$6.00). Metered spaces are available throughout the complex.
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM: Watch from the Gallery while Imam Bakhach gives the opening prayer along with the beginning of the legislative session.
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM: Make our way to our meeting room. Directions will be handed out at the Gallery so as to minimize confusion.
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Orientation session where everyone will be briefed on efforts by Muslims to affect legislation that is of interest to the
Muslim Community. Meeting one another and coordination between different activists on different issues. Then we divide into groups to plan your meetings with your State Representative and State Senator.
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Lunch is served in the cafeteria for
approximately $7.
You will be meeting in your State Representative and State Senator’s
offices. Some will also be meeting with the Governor’s office at the
Capitol. Time is also allotted for souvenir shopping at the Gift Shop.
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Debriefing and departures towards the buses
from the Rotunda at the Capitol.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Boarding the buses for departure from Austin to
points of departure in respective cities.
How do I sign up?
From Houston: Contact CAIR-HOUSTON to sign up. You can email your request to [email protected], or call 713-838-2247 (CAIR). Departure will be from Masjid Al-Farooq at 6:30 AM sharp! Call or email CAIR-Houston for more information. There will be a modest bus fare charge of $25.
From Dallas-Fort Worth: Contact F & J to sign up. You can email your
request to [email protected] or call 972.365.8214. There is a
departure point from Richardson at 5:30 AM, and a departure point from Arlington at 6:00 AM. Please include your name and your phone number in your email requests. There will be a modest bus fare charge of $30, and a limited number of sponsorships are available. Reservations must be received by Sunday 3/16/03.
From Central Texas (Austin, San Antonio, etc.): Contact Cair-Austin if you wish to aide in Political Activism or to volunteer in coordinating Muslims from Central Texas. You can email [email protected] or call 512-577-CAIR.
Actions Requested:
-
Thank State Representative Lon Burnum for his outreach efforts to
the Muslim Community, Office # 512-463-0740). -
Plan to join us at the State Capitol for this major milestone in our
State’s history. Reserve your spot on the bus as soon as possible.
These seats are first come, first serve and won’t last long. -
Pass on this information to your family and friends, so that the
largest number of Muslims can participate in this major event in the history of our state. If you are part of an Islamic organization then please announce this event in your venue. -
F&J is an individual membership-funded organization, and we
encourage you to become a member. Membership levels start at $30 and it is only with your support that we are able to accomplish our goals. Please email [email protected] for more information.
About The Freedom and Justice Foundation (Connecting the dots!):
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Board of Directors is made up of Muslim political activists from
several National Muslims organizations’ local chapters such as CAIR, AMC & AMA among others. -
Membership in F&J is an individual membership and not an
organizational membership; therefore all the local organizations are still free to conduct any activities they see fit. -
F&J works to facilitate the flow of information and resources
between different Muslim political activists around the state so that Muslim political activism can become more effective in Texas. -
F&J also works to facilitate the coordination between Muslim
political activists in Texas with non-Muslim political activists on Freedom and Justice issues that are of concern to Muslims.
