Did You Meet our Speakers? | Meeting with Sen. Dick Durbin | Banquet Info
Newsletter | January 16th, 2020
Deputy Director Discusses Rise of Hate Crimes with Sen. Dick Durbin and Community Leaders
On January 10, 2020, Sufyan Sohel met with Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and other local community and faith leaders to discuss how Chicagoland communities have been impacted by domestic extremism.
See: Chicagoland leaders discuss legislation to battle rising hate crimes
CAIR-Chicago has witnessed an increase of hate and bias targeted towards the Chicagoland Muslim community. Issues faced by CAIR-Chicago clients include school bullying, employment discrimination, prisoner rights, immigration & citizenship, and travel, amongst others.
“Over the past few years, we have seen hate become normalized throughout our societies. Our schools, homes, and places of worship are attacked. Many of our communities – especially immigrant & marginalized – are made to feel unwelcome and face heightened discrimination and, as a result, fear. This is not unacceptable and we applaud Senator Durbin for taking these steps to address hate and domestic terrorism. We commit to standing up with our allies against hate in all its forms” said Sohel after the meeting.
In March, Sen. Durbin, alongside several other US Senators,reintroduced the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act which would enhance the federal government’s efforts to prevent domestic terrorism by requiring federal law enforcement agencies to regularly assess this threat, focus their resources on the most significant domestic terrorism threats, and provide training and resources to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement in addressing these threats.
Senator Durbin also wrote to Attorney General Barr and the Federal Bureau of Investigations calling on them to work alongside local, state and federal agencies to prevent violent domestic terrorism and hate crime incidents before they take place.
Watch the video!
Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson Presents at U.S. Embassy Summit in North Macedonia
CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson was a U.S. State Department delegate that presented at the "Resilient Youth for Cohesive Communities" summit in North Macedonia. Hankerson was one of three experts invited to travel to the country to speak at the summit to local experts and regional nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Longtime partner organization WorldChicago invited CAIR-Chicago given its civil rights efforts in legal advocacy, community outreach, and a strong media presence to foster understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim communities and prevent hate and discrimination.
Hankerson stressed in meetings local and national grassroots efforts to fight against the federal law enforcement initiative Terrorism Prevention Partnerships (TPP), formerly known as Counter Violent Extremism (CVE). Hankerson noted stark contrasts to TPP/CVE’s goals in rooting out terrorists while continuously villainizing Muslims. The initiative violate civil liberties by using surveillance, entrapment, and flawed methods from failed efforts such as the “War on Drugs”.
“While there are unique challenges and opportunities to improve relationships within diverse communities in North Macedonia, our countries actually have interesting paralleled issues,” Hankerson said. “I’m excited for leaders I met and worked with, and so happy that we are willing to continue to support one another for the long term.”
CAIR-Chicago Presents Know Your Rights Workshop at Muktamar 2019
CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson presented a Know Your Rights (KYR) workshop at the Muktamar 2019 conference, “Hijrah: Transforming Oneself in Challenging Times”, in Oak Brook. Hankerson shared general information on constitutional rights in dealing with law enforcement and other situations when community members face discrimination.
Muktamar is an annual convention held by Indonesian Muslim Society in America (IMSA) and Malaysian Islamic Student Group (MISG), which was founded in Peoria in 1976. This was the first time the event took place in Chicago metro region.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS
Our 16th Annual Banquet: “ACTION 2020” will be on Saturday, February 8th, 2020, at 5:00 p.m., at Drury Lane.
Your Emcee:
Ash-har Quraishi – Journalist at Scripps Company – Formerly with NBC, Al Jazeera, CNN
Panelists:
Dr. Ibraheem Samirah – Virginia House Delegate (Oldest legislature in the US)
Abrar Omeish - Youngest Ever Elected Political Official in the History of Virginia
Sadia Covert – DuPage County Board Commissioner
Scholars:
Sh Kifah Mustapha - Imam & Director at The Prayer Center of Orland Park
Tariq El Amin – Resident Imam at Masjid Al Taqwa
As individuals we can do much. As a group we can do more. As institutions we can do it consistently, systematically, and efficiently. That is why our specialized institutions matter.
Join us to learn about our concrete and substantial achievements on behalf of our community in 2019 and more importantly our preparedness and plan for 2020.
Together we shall resist hate, bigotry, marginalization, and Islamophobia. And with God’s grace we shall defeat them. This race is a marathon and we are in it every step of the way. Be with us.
DETAILS
CAIR-Chicago’s 16th Annual Banquet, “ACTION 2020”
Saturday, February 8, 2020, 5:00 p.m.
100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
$100 for general entry and $45 for students (bring student ID) in advance.
Free parking! Babysitting available for $10/child.*
We hope to see you and your friends & family!
*children must be toilet-trained
Don't forget to spread the word and RSVP! Forward this email to 5 friends and encourage them to show up to the banquet, too!
TABLES & SPONSORSHIPS
Every year, CAIR-Chicago prides itself in the community support it receives from our mosques, partner organizations, and community businesses across Chicagoland. We truly value the investment that our sponsors make and strive to live up to-and surpass-expectations.
Whatever the size of your business/organization, sponsoring our annual banquet is an effective way to get brand exposure AND support a great cause.
In today's markets, followers expect brands to not only represent their values, but live them out in the community.
Last year, we had over 25 sponsors who helped us celebrate another year serving the Chicagoland Community. With over 1,200 people expected to attend our Annual Banquet on February 8th, sponsoring CAIR-Chicago not only provides an opportunity for excellent outreach, but also one to support an organization dedicated to combating hate & discrimination faced by our communities and protecting the civil rights of Chicagoland's Muslims.
To sponsor at the Diamond, Platinum, Gold , Silver, or Bronze levels, or if you have questions, please email Deputy Director Sufyan Sohel at ssohel@cair.com. Check out the costs and perks of each of our packages here.
If you would like to purchase a table, please contact our office at 312-212-1520, or email Deputy Director Sufyan Sohel at ssohel@cair.com.
See last year’s sponsors: 2019 Annual Sponsors
VOLUNTEER
Come work for your community in a positive, fun environment, and earn a FREE ticket to the event! Volunteers will be required to arrive at the banquet location by 1:00 pm for a mandatory training session and to help set up for the event in order to secure a free seat at the event.
Available opportunities include duties before and on the day of the event:
1. Registration Committee
2. Ushering Committee
3. Babysitting Committee
Sign up to Volunteer at our Annual Banquet Here >>
For more information or for any questions contact CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator, Gerald Hankerson, at ghankerson@cair.com or call 312-212-1520.