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www.Americans4Qatanani.org
Progress report on the grassroots campaign to support Imam
Mohammad Qatanani, Spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of
Passaic County, NJ.
Rally for Justice. Next
date is June 2nd in Newark, NJ. See flyer
Aref Assaf, spokesman, A4Q Media Relations
April 29, 2008
With the grace of God,
the merciful, the most compassionate, the hard work of the last four months in
support of Imam Mohamad Qatanani will culminate in the Rally For
Justice which will take place, rain or shine, on May 8, 9, and 12 in Newark, NJ.
Over a hundred or so volunteers of the Americans 4 Qatanani
grassroots campaign have been tirelessly working to prepare for
a successful, well organized and well attended popular showing
of support for the Imam and his family.
We are grateful for the immense help we
have received from so many people, organizations and businesses
who share our core belief that the Imam’s legal case is the
entire community’s burden and responsibility. (See partial list
below) This is not the
time to relax our moral focus on what is at stake: If we do not
participate in the rally, our enemies will only assume either
our sense of defeat or our indifference to what is
just and good. We do understand the possible hardship some will
encounter taking off work to attend the rally. But we have all
said the case is our case and our cause and it follows if we so
believe it to be so, then no excuse will suffice. We must all
attend in massive numbers. Your presence is important because
the eyes of the judge, the prosecutors, and indeed the world
will be focused on the streets across from the court room.
We are attending to every detail to make
your time fruitful and comfortable. To that end, we have secured
a permit from the City of Newark to the Rally which will
be organized from Kenny St. going to
Broad St., then to Green St. Jumaa will be at Lincoln Park only.
The Rally area is very close to the Federal
building located at
, where the courts proceedings
will take place. We have arranged for buses to take you and your
family from the Islamic center of Passaic County and other
locations to the Rally site and return you there. Buses will
leave around 8 AM so please be early. (See details below) We
have also provided for all ancillary services such toilets,
security, banners, vendors, and prayer areas. Bring your A4Q
t-shirts to the Rally or you can buy one at the ICPC beforehand
or at the Rally.
We have a confirmed list of great and
motivational speakers who will share their wit and wisdom with
us all. Most prominent will be Imam Siraj Wahhaj who will
deliver the sermon on Friday’s Jumma. The Friday Rally promises
to be very crowded and we urge you to arrive early.
We expect intense media coverage of the
Rally and the court proceedings. We have a designated a team of
Media Spokespersons who will be clearly identified by “Media” tags.
Please refer all media inquires either to the stage or anyone
wearing this tag. Security will be provided by the Newark police
in collaboration with a team of volunteers who will be so
identified. We will also have a group of attorneys present
wearing ’Legal Aid’ tags to assist with legal matters. We will
have sufficient quantity of American flags for use at the rally as
well. And remember, rain or shine the Rally is on all three days
from 8:00 till 1 PM. On Friday, the Rally will end after the
Jumma prayer.
The last three weeks witnessed an increased
awareness of the Imam’s case. We continued to have media
coverage which can be described as positive or neutral.
The New
York Times ran a story on the case on April 24th.
The Star Ledger will run a story early next week.
The
now popular
Qatanani documentary
is out and can be viewed on Google Video and YouTube as well. Please view it and alert all your
friends. We have also secured a very important statement
of support from the NJ
Commission on Civil Rights expressing its
support for the Imam and urging full adherence to due
process. Additionally, we have received one important resolution
from the Paterson City Council and a Proclamation from the Mayor
of Prospect Parks.
(See a draft
here). When added
to the so many other testimonials and letters of support, no one can dispute the wide
and truly impressive support the Imam has earned from his
friends.
Perhaps the most notable event took place
on April 24, when over a hundred clergy leaders gathered at the
Atrium in West Orange.(Video is available on the A4Q website) One speaker after another, the message
being made was the same: the Imam is irreplaceable and his
leadership is invaluable to all. The attendees concluded the
event with
a statement expressing their solidarity and support
for the Imam and urging Federal officials to listen to the
demands of the community and to do what is right.
The Americans for Qatanani grassroots
campaign will
continue to work to ensure victory for the Imam because his win
is our collective gain. Will you spare a few hours to show that
you care and that you will stand for justice and what is right?
Many of our friends will also be there. Won’t you? There may
never another time to say so loudly that American Muslims will
stand united against injustice and discrimination. Come
ready to be recognized.
Visit us on the web to learn more about
what’s at stake:
www.americans4qatanani.org or
www.aafusa.org.
All media inquiries should be directed to Aref Assaf
973-960-3673.
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