December 4, 2015 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

The Muslim Faces and Voices Against ISIS – in USA, Paris, and Around the World

While we have had many faces and voices against ISIS, the most important and compelling voices of those against extremism are Muslims who have, around the world, faced death from the ISIS terrorists who claim they are representing a twisted version of “Islam.” It is essential that we encourage those supporting human rights and rejecting extremist views.

Muslims, in America, in France, and Other Parts of the World, Are Taking a Public Stand Against ISIS — Muslims, in America, France, Other Parts of the World, Are Taking a Public Stand Against ISIS

After the November 13, 2015 ISIS terrorist attacks, we saw Muslims in France, Italy, and other parts of Europe stand up in rejection and defiance of the ISIS hate and terrorism, including taking part in public protests against ISIS and in support of those attacked in Paris. Muslims across France and Europe marched against ISIS. Since the November 13 Paris attacks, a global campaign has extended on Twitter with Muslims taking a stand against ISIS promoting the campaign #NotInMyName.

After ISIS Paris Terrorist Attacks, Muslim Demonstrations Take Place in Europe - Thouands of Muslims in Toulouse, Rome, Stockholm Denounce Attacks — After ISIS Paris Terrorist Attacks, Muslim Demonstrations Take Place in Europe – Thousands of Muslims in Toulouse, Rome, Stockholm Denounce Attacks

Anti-ISIS Muslim Women Protest in Support of Paris

There have been active, but rarely publicized Muslim groups in the USA which challenge extremist views. This has included groups which R.E.A.L. has joined with in promoting human rights, such as the Muslims for Progressive Values, and the Muslimah Writer’s Alliance (MWA), with whom we have stood together in support of shared universal human rights.

Washington DC - R.E.A.L. and Interfaith Group Stands at Freedom Center for Universal Human Rights — Washington DC – R.E.A.L. and Interfaith Group Stands at Freedom Center for Universal Human Rights

On the day of the December 2, 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Muslims came forward to reject and denounce violence. In the aftermath of the San Bernardino terrorist attack, we also see Muslims who have spoken out and rejected the terrorist violence against those victims.

Muslim woman Samar Natour - standing friends with the victims of San Bernardino terrorist attack - "We are here to show support and for there to be a Muslim presence and to show that the violence is not what our religion is about " (Source: Newsweek) — Muslim woman Samar Natour – standing friends with the victims of San Bernardino terrorist attack – “We are here to show support and for there to be a Muslim presence and to show that the violence is not what our religion is about ” (Source: Newsweek)

On December 3, 2015, the American Muslim Institution, based in Washington DC, issued a statement that the “Loss of life in San Bernardino is unequivocally condemned by Muslims.” The statement included “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims and their loved ones, 14 people have lost their lives to senseless violence and another 17 are seriously injured. We pray with our hearts, souls and minds, asking God to guide us all to restore peace and sanity. American Muslims condemns this violent crime and urge the law enforcement agencies to track down all possible links to these violent acts, if any. It is time for the law enforcement officials to investigate the backgrounds of the suspected individuals to understand the sources and causes for their vigilant and criminal behavior, as it is a serious breach of security and to take corrective measures. As fellow Americans and fellow Muslims, it is our duty and collective responsibility to keep law and order and faithfully guard the safety of every citizen. Hate is one of the many sources of disrupting the peace in a society and it is the duty of all of us to track down the source of such hate and work on mitigating it.”

Washington DC: Anti-ISIS Rally by Muslims at Lincoln Memorial (Source: News and Views)

On November 20 2015, in Washington DC, Muslims gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to make a statement that they reject the violence, hatred, intolerance, and terrorism of violence. This was also organized by the American Muslim Institution. As reported by News and Views, the Muslim activists made statements condemning ISIS as “evil” and not representing Islam, reporting that “American Muslims gathered on the steps of Lincoln Memorial Friday to condemn the ISIS terror, and reinforce Islam’s message of peaceful coexistence.” “In their speeches and slogans, participants said the ISIS hateful ideology of violence does not represent Islam since it goes against Islam’s message of peaceful coexistence and respect for human life.” Mike Ghous, executive director of American Muslim Institution, stated “We are taking a small step to condemn them, to send a message to ISIS and terrorists that we do not approve them. We do not accept them because they are evil.”

In addition, also on November 20, 2015, about 100 people gathered in Lafayette Square in Washington DC, across the street from the White House, with candles, American flags and banners that read “Muslims Condemn Terrorism,” and “American Muslims Against ISIS.”

Anti-ISIS Rally by American Muslims Against ISIS - 100 at Lafayette Park - gathered outside the White House (Source: WTOP/Michelle Basch) — Anti-ISIS Rally by American Muslims Against ISIS – 100 at Lafayette Park – gathered outside the White House (Source: WTOP/Michelle Basch)

In addition, R.E.A.L.’s December 3, 2015 posting, we pointed to numerous Muslim women who rejected extremism in the Al Huda groups. There is a continuing, but rarely publicized, movement by Muslim women and men to challenge rigidity and extremist views.

R.E.A.L. urges continuing public statements and specific rejection of ISIS, its ideology, and its terrorist tactics by Muslim activists, as well as non-Muslim activists.

As many have said, we are all in this together.

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However, what many in the West are not as well aware of is how much the ISIS terrorist organization has targeted and attacked Muslims, Muslim activities, and Muslim mosques. As we have reported elsewhere, ISIS has waged a global war against Muslims.

As we have reported numerous times, Muslim around the world have condemned the attacks by the ISIS terrorist group which has frequently targeted Muslim groups globally. The frequency of such ISIS terrorist attacks against other Muslims is so common and so regular, we don’t begin to suggest we are covering them all, and frequently are forced to posting on Twitter of such regular attacks by ISIS on other Muslims.

But among those we have posted about, R.E.A.L. has reported of ISIS terrorist attacks against Muslims on:

— Syria – ISIS Terrorist Massacre of Civilians in Terror Attack Killing over 145 on the Syrian town of Kobani and a nearby village

ISIS terror group killed at least 145 civilians in Kobani, Syria, including children, women, elderly

— Bangladesh – ISIS Terrorist Attack on Mosque in Bogra, Shooting at 20 Worshipers During Prayers – killing 1 and wounding 3

ISIS Terrorist Attack on Muslim Mosque in Bogra, Bangladesh - November 26, 2015 — ISIS Terrorist Attack on Muslim Mosque in Bogra, Bangladesh – November 26, 2015

— Saudi Arabia – ISIS Terrorist Bomb Attack On Mosque During Prayers – killing 13 and wounding 22

ISIS Terrorist Bombing on Saudi Mosque in Abha - August 6, 2015 — ISIS Terrorist Bombing on Saudi Mosque in Abha – August 6, 2015

Injured Victims of ISIS Terror Attack on Mosque - mir of Asir Prince Faisal Bin Khaled visits the injured at a hospital in Abha, Thursday (Source: SPA) — Injured Victims of ISIS Terror Attack on Mosque – mir of Asir Prince Faisal Bin Khaled visits the injured at a hospital in Abha, Thursday (Source: SPA)

— Iraq – ISIS terrorist bombing of Shiite Muslim market area in Iraq – with ISIS mass casualty murder of 60 Muslims

ISIS Truck Bomb on Muslim Neighborhood in Iraq - August 13, 2015 — ISIS Truck Bomb on Muslim Neighborhood in Iraq – August 13, 2015

— Bangladesh – ISIS Terrorist Attack on Muslim Gathering Killing 14 Year Old Boy and Wounding Over 50 Muslims

ISIS Terrorist Bomb Attack on Shiite Muslim Procession in Dhaka, Bangladesh, October 24, 2015

— Kuwait – ISIS Terrorist Attack on Shiite Mosque of Al-Sadiq During Ramadan Prayers – Killing at Least 8, and Injuring Many

ISIS Cowards Attack Shiite mosque of Al-Sadiq during Muslim Ramadan Prayers

— Saudi Arabia – ISIS Terrorist Attack on Minority Shia Imam Hussein mosque

— Iraq: ISIS burning to death 45 Muslims in an attack on Iraq village in western Iraq Al Anbar Governate’s town of al-Baghdadi

— Afghanistan – depraved murders of Afghanistan Muslims by ISIS

ISIS Terrorists in Afghanistan Murder Helpless Men

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Clearly, the ideology of ISIS terrorism is primarily as an enemy to the Muslim people. It makes sense that Muslims can and must continue to be the number one face of opposition to ISIS.

It is the primary responsibility of white Americans to fight and defy the hate and terrorist ideology of white supremacy (which over 100,000 U.S.A. soldiers died in fighting a war over), and we see white Americans in protests in our nation’s capital and around the nation to challenge white supremacists. Just as it would be wrong to judge all white Americans for the actions of white supremacists, including the vast majority which have fought and many given their lives to challenge white supremacist hate and terrorism, so we must respect those Muslims who reject, defy, and denounce the ISIS hate and terrorism.

We urge all, from all identity groups, and all religions, to be jointly Responsible for Equality And Liberty.

The ISIS War on Muslims

As Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has reported numerous times, many Muslims around the world have condemned the attacks by the ISIS terrorist group which has frequently targeted Muslim groups globally. The frequency of such ISIS terrorist attacks against other Muslims is so common and so regular, we don’t begin to suggest we are covering them all, and frequently are forced to posting on Twitter of such regular attacks by ISIS on other Muslims.

But among those we have posted about, R.E.A.L. has reported of ISIS terrorist attacks against Muslims on:

— Syria – ISIS Terrorist Massacre of Civilians in Terror Attack Killing over 145 on the Syrian town of Kobani and a nearby village

— Bangladesh – ISIS Terrorist Attack on Mosque in Bogra, Shooting at 20 Worshipers During Prayers – killing 1 and wounding 3

— Saudi Arabia – ISIS Terrorist Bomb Attack On Mosque During Prayers – killing 13 and wounding 22

— Iraq – ISIS terrorist bombing of Shiite Muslim market area in Iraq – with ISIS mass casualty murder of 60 Muslims

— Bangladesh – ISIS Terrorist Attack on Muslim Gathering Killing 14 Year Old Boy and Wounding Over 50 Muslims

— Kuwait – ISIS Terrorist Attack on Shiite Mosque of Al-Sadiq During Ramadan Prayers – Killing at Least 8, and Injuring Many

— Saudi Arabia – ISIS Terrorist Attack on Minority Shia Imam Hussein mosque

— Iraq: ISIS burning to death 45 Muslims in an attack on Iraq village in western Iraq Al Anbar Governate’s town of al-Baghdadi

— Afghanistan – depraved murders of Afghanistan Muslims by ISIS

Clearly, the ideology of ISIS terrorism is primarily as an enemy to the Muslim people. It makes sense that Muslims can and must continue to be the number one face of opposition to ISIS.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in support of our universal human rights for all, and we stand in defiance against those, including terrorist and hate groups, which seek to attack such universal human rights, dignity, and security for all.

Orange Ribbon for Universal Human Rights - Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) — Orange Ribbon for Universal Human Rights – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

San Bernardino Terrorist Attack Victims

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has begun to get names of the victims of the December 2, 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California. This posting will be updated as new information on victims is released.

The victims killed included: Tin Nguyen, 31; Larry Daniel Kaufman, 42; Nicholas Thalasinos, 52; Juan Espinoza, 50; Shannon Johnson, 45; Bennetta Bet-Badal, 46; Aurora Godoy, 26; Isaac Amanios, 60; Harry Bowman, 46; Yvette Velasco, 27; Sierra Clayborn, 27; Robert Adams, 40; Damian Meins, 58; Michael Wetzel, 37.

American Victims Killed in San Bernardino Terrorist Attack - December 2, 2015 — American Victims Killed in San Bernardino Terrorist Attack – December 2, 2015

Tin Nguyen

Tin Nguyen – a 31 year old Vietnamese-born woman from Santa Ana who was a food inspector. She stopped by the Christmas party. She was planning to be married in 2017.

Larry Daniel Kaufman

Larry Daniel Kaufman – a 42 year old man who ran the center’s coffee shop and trained the developmentally disabled clients who worked with him, and who proudly wore rainbow earrings for gay pride.

Nicholas Thalasinos

Nicholas Thalasinos – a 52 year old man restaurant inspector, who was a Messianic Jew. He was a scholar and religious. He was defiant to extremist views, including ISIS. He received a death threat the day before he was murdered, and reported had a heated debate with Syed Farook two weeks before the attack, as reported in another posting.

Juan Espinoza

Juan Espinoza – a 50 year old man from Highland, who worked as an inspector for the county health department. Juan Espinoza is survived by his wife, a daughter and a son. Another report describes Juan C. Espinoza as the director of Riverside County Transportation & Land Management Agency.

Shannon Johnson

Shannon Johnson – a 45 year old man from Los Angeles, he worked as an environmental health specialist with San Bernardino County’s public health department for nearly 11 years, according to his LinkedIn page. Johnson said he was in charge of food safety, recreational health and housing.

Bennetta Bet-Badal

Bennetta Bet-Badal – a 46 year old woman from Rialto; she worked as an inspector for the San Bernardino County Health Department. Bennetta Bet-badal was born in Iran in 1969, and fled to the United States when she was 18 to escape the persecution of Christians following the Iranian Revolution. She settled in California and married Arlen Verdehyou, a police officer, and they had three children. Her friends created a “Benneta Betbadal Memorial Fund.”

Aurora Godoy

Aurora Godoy – a 26 year old from San Jacinto. She was a wife and mother of an infant son. Her aunt, Rebecca Godoy made a statement on Facebook: “Yesterday in the shootings in San Bernardino many families were affected. Ours was one of them. We will keep her flame alive so that her young son does not forget his special mother.” Those who cared about Aurora Godoy and her family created a GoFundMe web page to get community financial help for the family to help cover their funeral costs, and assist them in the aftermath of this tragedy.

Isaac Amanios

Isaac Amanios – a 60 year old man from Fontana, was a health inspector for San Bernardino County. He leaves behind his wife, Hiwet Gebreslassie, and three adult children. He was the cousin of Nat Berhe, a Fontana native who’s a safety for the New York Giants.

Harry Bowman

Harry Bowman – a 46 year old man from Upland, who had just started on his job as a statistical analyst with San Bernardino County’s environmental health services on September 19, 2015. He had two teenage daughters. He was a native of York, Pennsylvania. He had just received a Christmas present from his mother, which sat on the doorstep. He never made it home.

Yvette Velasco

Yvette Velasco – a 27 year old woman from Fontana, who was a an environmental health specialist for the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. Her family released a statement: “Yvette was an intelligent, motivated, and beautiful young woman, who was full of life and loved by all who knew her. We are devastated about what happened, and are still processing this nightmare. We ask that you please respect our family’s privacy in order to grieve our loss. Yvette is survived by her parents, Robert and Marie Velasco, and her three sisters, Adriana, Erica, and Genevieve. Please pray for our family and the other families who have lost a loved one as a result of this terrible tragedy.”

Sierra Clayborn

Sierra Clayborn – a 27 year old woman from Moreno Valley, who worked as an environmental health specialist for San Bernardino County. She was a graduate of University of California, Riverside. Like many others around the world, Sierra Clayborn added the French flag to her Facebook profile soon after the terrorist attack in Paris on November 13. How could she know that she too would be a victim just barely over two weeks later?

Sierra Clayborn Defiantly Stood for Human Rights and Dignity of Paris Terrorist Victims

Robert Adams

Robert Adams – a 40 year old man from Yucaipa, leaves behind his wife, Summer, and his daughter, Savannah. Robert Adams was an environmental health specialist for the San Bernardino County Health Department. Friends and supporters of Robert Adams created a GoFundMe web page to raise funds to help his family.

Damian Meins

Damian Meins – a 58 year old man of San Pedro, who had only been working for San Bernardino County for a short time. He previously worked for a physical education teacher at St. Catherine’s School in Riverside. Damian Meins was also an Extended Care Coordinator at St. Catherine of Alexandria School in Riverside, where he also helped kids create Christmas art projects and religious murals. Damian Meins received a Community Recognition Award for his work in Riverside, which was based on “compassion, courage, forgiveness, generosity, humility, inclusiveness, integrity, kindness, respect and service.”

Michael Wetzel

Michael Wetzel – a 37 year old man from Lake Arrowhead, who worked as the supervising environmental health specialist for San Bernardino County. He leaves behind a wife and six children. His friends created a YouCaring crowdfunding page in order to help his family, where you can also see his entire family. “So many prayers needed,” Wetzel’s wife wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon. They were an active part of the Church of the Woods in Lake Arrowhead.

American ISIS – Garland, Texas Attack

CNN Security reporter Jim Sciutto reported on December 4, 2015 that the Garland, Texas terrorists Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi also pledged allegiance to ISIS. Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi attacked the at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas on May 3, 2015, with the goal of disrupting an event inside and killing one of the event participants. They shot a security guard in the ankle. Both Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi were shot and killed by police.

On Twitter, minutes prior to the attack, one of the gunmen posted “May Allah accept us as mujahideen” with the hashtag #texasattack. He wrote that both attackers had pledged allegiance to “Amirul Mu’mineen”, a likely reference to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The statements also requested others to follow an ISIS propagandist, Junaid Hussain, on Twitter. After the shooting, Hussain wrote: “Allahu Akbar!!!! 2 of our brothers just opened fire.