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August 29, 2006 Dina Rehab, CAIR-Chicago's Outreach Coordinator, participated in a Habitat for Humanity event organized by JFG Mortgage (www.jfgcorp.com). Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry, which seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Volunteers were assigned specific tasks to help build a home on Chicago's south side. 
Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
The organization has built more than 200,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1,000,000 people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple and decent houses.
MORE copyright © 2006, cairchicago.org 
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: THE FLAWS OF RACIAL PROFILING By Christina Abraham August 21, 2006 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0608270276aug27,1,4258513.story While proponents of racial profiling such as Jonah Goldberg argue that racial profiling "makes sense" and therefore should be allowed into the policies of law enforcement officials, in actuality, racial profiling is inefficient in terms of security, and illegal in terms of law. In his article "Face it: Profiling makes sense; Race should be factor in detaining travelers," Goldberg argues that U.S. Customs and Border Protection should allow its officers to racially profile Middle Eastern and Asian travelers, instead of investing in technology that would more accurately detect possible transgressors. Goldberg’s argument is flawed for several reasons. First, though proponents of racial profiling can’t seem to grasp it, racial profiling is simply not efficient as a method of detecting possible violators of the law. By adopting a policy of racial profiling, law enforcement would limit their scope to a narrow group of people. Would-be transgressors would merely need to make sure that the people carrying out the mission do not fit the profile. Second, and more importantly, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers do not only have to watch out for potential terrorist threats. CBP must be able to detect kidnappers, drug traffickers, weapons smugglers, and other violators of U.S. and International Law. The task of the CBP officer is to detect any illegal activity involving travel. In order to better help them do their job, and minimize officers violating the civil rights of travelers, better technology is needed to be able to efficiently and accurately detect the real threats – not people who look like they fit the stereotype of the person who should be suspected of being a threat. Perhaps the neoconservatives would argue that racial profiling is acceptable even then. What we would essentially end up with is security policy based on stereotypical attitudes put forth against a wide array of minorities in the United States. Hispanics, African Americans, Asians and Middle Easterners would all be affected by such policies, and nobody would be any safer. The main flaw with the neoconservative argument is that it completely fails at cutting to the root cause of the problem. The neoconservative policies of racial profiling are in themselves part of the problem; those policies actually contribute to fueling the security threats that currently face this country. It is also those same policies that sometimes make Middle Eastern and Asian Americans feel they are being targeted and discriminated against by the law enforcement officials they are supposed to entrust to protect them. Indeed, Middle Eastern and Muslim Americans often feel that they are the targets of hostility in an otherwise tolerant atmosphere. Indicative of the hostility towards them in American policy is Goldberg’s very comment that "100 percent of them [terrorists] are Muslim," [his emphasis]. Neoconservatives such as Goldberg put forth such racist assertions as fact, which are then used as evidence to promote their arguments. When an intoxicated Mel Gibson made the statement that all of the world’s wars are started by the Jews, even the neoconservatives were quick to denounce his comment as racist and completely inappropriate. A (presumably) sober Goldberg, however, makes the statement that all terrorists are Muslim and his hypocrisy completely escapes him. Proponents of the theory that terrorism is exclusively a Muslim proprietorship part with history’s rendition of the facts. A cursory survey of the history of terrorism lists various groups with diverse backgrounds and motivations. Terrorism is a military tactic that was documented as early as the French Revolution. The founders of the State Israel resorted to such tactics against the British as did Irish, Basque, and Tamil separatist groups, some of whom remain active today. More importantly, to advocate racial profiling would be to show utter disregard for U.S. law, and the rights guaranteed to every individual living in this country by the Constitution. Applying uniform policy in passenger screening, and every other area of law enforcement, is not discriminatory, as neoconservatives like Goldberg assert. It is upholding the tenets of American justice, as put forth by the Constitution and other legislative acts. It is disturbing to note the ease by which those in the neoconservative right seem to do away with the rule of law in furtherance of their narrow political goals, which, ironically, they always claim is the preservation of American values. But at the core of American values is a fundamental belief in the rule of law, and thus the essential hypocrisy of the neoconservative paradigm becomes evident. Christina Abraham is CAIR-Chicago's Civil Rights Coordinator, she can be reached via email at civilrights@cairchicago.org copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune 
FALL 2006 INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT CAIR-CHICAGO CAIR-Chicago, the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), is currently offering 17 new internship opportunities. CAIR is the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization. The organization’s mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. All internships are unpaid. Internships last one semester and include a 12-hour/week commitment. Applicants should email a resume and cover letter to Dina Rehab, Outreach Coordinator, at: internships@cairchicago.org. APPLICATION GUIDELINES: clearly indicate which internship opportunity you are applying for in your cover letter. If you are applying for more than one position, please list in order of preference. All fall applications are due by August 28th (please note: fall internships run from August/September through December/January). Applications that do not list the above information will not be processed. If you have any questions, please email all inquiries to internships@cairchicago.org. Students interested in receiving class credit, should indicate so in their cover letters. Credit will be arranged during the first week of the academic semester. Listing of all internships by department: Civil Rights: CIVIL RIGHTS INTERN LAW CLERK (Open to Law Students Only) Communications: COMMUNICATIONS INTERN CHURCH PROJECT INTERN FAITH CORE ONLINE MAGAZINE INTERN Governmental Relations: GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS INTERN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING LEAD INTERN VOTER EDUCATION PROJECT INTERN POLICY RESEARCH INTERN Operations: OPERATIONS INTERN RECEPTIONIST INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INTERN EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT INTERN Outreach: PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERN PUBLIC EDUCATION INTERN HUMAN RESOURCES INTERN MUSLIMS CARE PROJECT INTERN Dina Rehab is CAIR-Chicago's Outreach Coordinator, she can be reached via email at outreach@cairchicago.org 
AREA MUSLIM LEADERS WORKING WITH FEDERAL OFFICIALS By Leah Hope August 11, 2006 http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section= local&id=4454146 See Video Opinions are divided in the Chicago-area's Muslim community about the impact of the terror plot arrests. Some fear a backlash. Others are more hopeful. Comments made by President Bush Thursday have upset some local Muslim-Americans. They say fear can build on misconceptions. But there is an avenue for understanding already forged between federal officials and local leaders. Friday prayers at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview draw hundreds of Muslims. Since 9/11, many Muslim-Americans have endured ridicule, abuses even hate crimes. While there is concern about a possible backlash after an apparent terror plot in England, some see this as an opportunity. "Another opportunity for us to reach out and open the discussion," said Aisheh Said, Chicago Roundtable participant. Aisheh Said is among the community leaders involved in the Chicago Roundtable Discussion. It is a regular meeting of Muslim-Americans leaders and federal officials, including the FBI's special agent in charge. ABC7 spoke with Rob Grant last week about the importance including community in law enforcement. "It's just not a police responsibility, it's also a local political responsibility to know their communities, understand their communities and be sensitive to things around the world that may affect them that would not affect the rest of us," said Grant. Community leaders say the discussions build relationships that are good for everyone. Ahmed Rehab is the executive director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations Chicago. "The American Islamic community is proud to be American as it is proud to be Muslim and we recognize the responsibility of working with governmental agencies in making this country safe and secure for all," said Rehab. The roundtable discussions deal with a variety of issues including delays in citizenship, treatment of Muslims at airport checkpoint and security. The Mosque Foundation's president says the discussions increase awareness and sensitivities. "Four out of 10 Americans have negative views against Muslims, and that's why we have to have good relationship with our law enforcement agencies because we need to protect our community," said Dr. Mohammed Sahloul, Mosque Foundation. The roundtable meets every two months and it set to meet in a couple of weeks. Among the discussion is the fall out after the British arrests. Those involved feel the roundtable has been a step in the right direction and there is an effort to bring the type of roundtable to the national stage. Copyright ©2006 ABC Inc., WLS-TV Chicago 
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Government:
View reports of ongoing progress for cases with the Civil Rights Department in the "Progress Report" section. ACTION ALERTS: Citizenship Delay Project - Religious Discrimination Delays Citizenship Process: As a joint effort with the Arab American Action Network (AAAN), CAIR-Chicago is asking individuals who passed a citizenship examination and have been waiting for over 90 days, or have been waiting for a Green Card for permanent residence for over 90 days to contact us at either civilrights@cairchicago.org or mennakhalil@gmail.com Travel Free Project - Muslim Americans Detained and Questioned When Traveling Outside of the U.S.: As part of a potential class action law suit, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and CAIR-Chicago is asking anyone who has been detained and questioned on return to the US at any border crossing (land or airport) to please contact travelfree@cairchicago.org immediately. It is important for Muslims who have faced this type of treatment to join the lawsuit so as to show that it is not an isolated case. The more people that join the case the more strength it will have to force positive changes in how Muslim Americans are treated in the future at our borders. Also, if you are being consistently delayed, detained, or have otherwise had your rights violated while traveling, contact travelfree@cairchicago.org. Religious Discrimination at Standardized Testing Centers: As part of a potential class action law suit, CAIR-Chicago is asking for anyone who has experienced any form of religious discrimination at a testing center to please contact us at civilrights@cairchicago.org. An example of a possible form of religious discrimination includes requiring or requesting the removal of a headscarf for searches, or discriminatory remarks made by employees about Muslims or Islam. The facts of the above case are as follows: A Muslim student was asked to remove her headscarf on two separate occasions at a testing center before she began a standardized test required for graduate school. The supervisor and employees of the testing center refused to show her a written copy of the policy requiring Muslim women wearing a headscarf to be searched. A witness at the testing center also observed the employees making discriminatory remarks about Muslims while the victim was taking the test. Please let us know if you or someone you know have experienced a similar incident and would like to take action to prevent such forms of religious discrimination at standardized testing centers in the future. 
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ABC 7 PRESENTS "911: HOW WE’VE CHANGED," A COMMERCIAL FREE HALF-HOUR SPECIAL HOSTED BY RON MAGERS, KATHY BROCK AND CHERYL BURTON, SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10 AT 10:35 P.M. ... ABC 7 special reports will be followed by a panel discussion examining post-9/11 changes. Panelists scheduled to appear include: Cortez Trotter, city of Chicago chief emergency officer; Colonel Jill Morgenthaler, governor’s deputy chief of staff for public safety and homeland security; Ahmed Rehab, executive director, council on American-Islamic relations, Chicago; John Allen Williams, Ph.D., Loyola professor and national security policy and strategy expert; Matthew Lippman, Ph.D., criminal justice professor and expert on homeland security. MORE 
CAIR-Chicago is seeking a qualified volunteer to assist as the Event Planner for our 2007 Annual Event. The Event Planner will head CAIR-Chicago’s Annual Fundraiser Committee as the Chairperson, and will work closely with CAIR-Chicago’s Operations Coordinator, Board, and staff. This position is compensated. The Muslim community, sponsors, and guests will be invited to review CAIR-Chicago’s past year accomplishments and will be asked to support our future efforts to benefit the Muslim American community in Chicago. If you are interested in serving the Muslim community as CAIR-Chicago’s 2007 Event Chairperson, please contact Sabah Ahmed at operations@cairchicago.org. 
CAIR-Chicago Welcomes A New Activist to the Team 
Ross Zambon is in his third and final year at the John Marshall Law School, as a joint J.D./LL.M. student in taxation. He has recently joined the CAIR-Chicago team as a Civil Rights Intern, with an undecided future in the legal community. By means of his degree in finance from the University of Illinois, Mr. Zambon is interested in international business, foreign policy, and worldwide civil rights. As an avid football fan, Mr. Zambon has not missed a Bears game in 19 and one half years!
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For more information, please contact: CAIR-Chicago (A Chapter of The Council On American-Islamic Relations) 28 E. Jackson Blvd, Suite 1410, Chicago IL 60604 Phone: 312-212-1520, Fax: 312-212-1530 Email: info@cairchicago.org, Website: www.cairchicago.org Please email your comments and suggestions to info@cairchicago.org If you have received this email directly from CAIR-Chicago and wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, you may go to www.cairchicago.org , or simply reply to this e-mail and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line. You are also encouraged to read our Privacy Policy. |
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