The challenge for our generation is how to fight barefoot in the global war of ideas in support of our universal human rights. We must learn how to fight such a war of ideas without the traditional weapons of military, political, and even foreign policy campaigns of might, hate, and cunning. The magnificent goal of seeking real change requires real courage and real compassion, not just angry bluster, momentary adrenaline, and the temporary satisfaction of outwitting an opponent.
The war of ideas for our unqualified, universal human rights is one that must equally challenge anti-human rights ideologies, such as totalitarianism, religious extremism, racism, and misogyny. But while it may challenge such ideologies, a real struggle for human rights does not seek hate and violence against those who hold such ideas, but seeks to change their hearts and minds. We seek to challenge ideologies, not reject individuals as human beings. We seek change with an outstretched hand, not an upraised fist.
The question is: do we really believe in our unqualified, universal human rights?
While this is a secular issue, there is a useful analogy in religious text. There is an example of the barefoot warrior described in the Bible of Joshua in Jericho. When faced with an angelic commander from God, Joshua asks the angel (thinking at first it is a man) – are you on our side or the side of our enemies? The angel replies that he is on God’s side, and demands that Joshua takes God’s side, and remove his sandals as he was now standing on holy ground. Removing one’s sandals required true faith, as while a soldier could lose his shield and weapon, without his sandals (especially in such rough territory), he could not even run away. But he was not defenseless – he had something more powerful, he believed in something greater than himself.
In the secular war of ideas for universal human rights, we also need to remove our sandals and be barefoot in the rocky hills of humanity. It is not enough to ask others if they are on our side on any given issue. We must be on the side of universal human rights for all of humanity. If we are on the side of our unqualified, universal human rights, then we must be on the side of humanity, even those we don’t agree with, even those on “the other side” of our ideological struggle. Our universal human rights are also their rights too. We are not just on “our side,” but we are on “their side” too as human beings.
This requires faith – not only just in our unqualified, universal human rights, but also in humanity itself. Do we believe in our universal human rights? Do we believe that humanity is worth fighting for?
Certainly the past could give anyone pause in answering. We have seen and continue to see great atrocities, the Holocaust, global genocides, global terrorism, continents swept by hate, fear, and senseless violence. It is understandable that anyone might ask, how can you expect the best from your fellow human beings?
But to march as a barefoot warrior on behalf of our shared universal human rights, we have to believe that together we can change. For the future of our descendants, we have to believe that humanity is worth the struggle. What we focus our minds on is what we will surely realize. If we focus on hate, then we are certain to attract hate. If we focus on love, then we must believe that we will attract love.
I have urged many times, for us to Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins. It is easy to cynically dismiss this as impractical philosophy. It requires real courage to believe in the power of love. It requires real compassion to believe that Love truly does Win. It is only once we start to make this a part of our lives that we can begin to become a barefoot warrior for human rights.
When we challenge ideologies that defy our human rights and that promote hate, we cannot be a barefoot warrior for human rights and respond to those who promote such ideologies with our own hatred, mocking, and violence. We have to leave those childish things behind. We have to grow up as human beings, if want to be barefoot warriors, responsible for equality and liberty. It is time to be men and women, and to answer the clarion call to our generation for compassion, not just echo the anger of frustration and impatience.
To reach the vistas that are possible together as human beings, we must break the ball and chain of hate and fear that drag us all down. When we urge our fellow human beings to release the burden of hate and fear from their hearts, we are asking them not just to release that burden from themselves, but also from ourselves as well. Their burdens are our burdens in the grand challenge for humanity to reach towards equality and liberty for all.
Much of the world has changed, and we can reach more of the world than ever before. Such global communication abilities have given us great power as human beings. But with great power, comes great responsibility. We have an opportunity to continue the long march started by so many champions of justice for so many individual circumstances, but this time, not just for one identity group, but in the name of equality and liberty for all. Never before did those who came before us have the opportunity to reach so much of the world in a single generation. But with new technologies and a vastly expanded globalism, we now have the opportunity to reach countless others who never had the hope to believe in our shared universal human rights.
Will we rise to the challenge?
Will we dare to have the courage to begin a barefoot march for the universal human rights for all?
Some will ask, will this march for human rights end totalitarianism now, will it end racism now, will it end religious extremism and promote pluralism now, will it end misogyny now? The answer to that is both yes and no.
A march for human rights can reach some hearts now, but we know we have a long way to go in this generational struggle. But the march begins with the first steps — within us. If we end such hate and such disrespect for human rights within ourselves, then we have begun the march as a barefoot warrior for human rights.
It is the march itself for our fellow human beings rights that is the living example we set, the living testimony as to what we can achieve together in respect and love. We can demonstrate that there is another path to our future, another choice beside endless hate and endless violence.
It is the march itself that can reach out to others and help others realize that we are not bound to deny the human rights of others. We are not bound to the hopeless cynicism that humanity cannot change. We are not bound to distrust, disrespect, and the disease of hate. We have a choice.
We can choose love, not hate. We can choose to be responsible for equality and liberty.
We can choose to leave our sandals on the rocks and believe in our fellow human beings.
Orange Ribbon for Universal Human Rights – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
On Sunday June 13, 2010, at 2 PM, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) invites Washingtonians to a public event to remember the June 10, 2009 attack on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and to remember the loss of Stephen Tyrone Johns. Choose love, not hate.
We Will Remember Stephen Tyrone Johns Sacrifice and Courage (Photo: U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum)
The attack by white supremacist and Holocaust denier James Von Brunn on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on June 10, 2009, was based on hate. We will urge our fellow Americans to Choose Love, Not Hate. We will urge our fellow Americans to say “Never Again” to such hate.
We will meet at the Freedom Plaza in Washington DC, near where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked on his speech “I Have a Dream,” and will stand united in our diverse religions, ethnicity, and races. We will stand united for equality. We will also say “Never Again” to hate.
"Never Again" to Hate. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
We will remember black security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns who was shot to death on June 10, 2009 while on duty defending a museum that stands in remembrance to the Holocaust. We vow that his death will not be in vain, but that such sacrifices will remind us of the need to be ever-vigilant and defiant against the forces of hate that seek to spread in Washington DC and throughout America.
As those who promote hate seek to create ever-increasing numbers of hate groups in America, our message to them is that America will never retreat on hate. But we don’t answer hate with hate. Instead of an upraised fist, we offer outstretched hands and hearts to those who do hate, to urge them to release the burden of hate from their hearts, and join us in defending the universal human rights and dignity of all people.
The Freedom Plaza in Washington DC is named in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., who worked on his “I Have a Dream” speech in the nearby Willard Hotel. In 1988, a time capsule containing a Bible, a robe, and other relics of King’s was planted at the site.
It is summer. It rains, and hopefully it will not be raining at 2 PM.
But if we get caught in a thunderstorm, we will simply walk across the street under the cover of the National Theater marque, which is literally across the street at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004.
If we have to speak there on the street, then we can also do that as well. The National Theater has no shows that day, and we have submitted an Assembly Notification for that location with the Washington DC police, as a fallback alternative.
The photo below shows Freedom Plaza on the RIGHT and the National Theater marquee on the LEFT. We just walk across the street.
What if it Rains? If we have a brief thunderstorm, will stand under the shelter in front of the National Theater (Left), which is right next to Freedom Plaza (Right)
DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO NATIONAL THEATER:
FROM MARYLAND AND NORTH OF D.C.
ROUTE #I- 95 SOUTH
Pass Capital Beltway (I-495)
EXIT #22 – BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON PARKWAY
EXIT RIGHT TO ROUTE #50 WEST – TOWARD WASHINGTON
Becomes New York Avenue
Continue about 10 miles
LEFT ON 4TH STREET, NW
RIGHT on E STREET, NW
Parking lots on E Street between 12th and 13th, and on 12th or 13th between E and F Streets.
E Street becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th. The National is at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
FROM SPRINGFIELD AND SOUTH OF D.C.
ROUTE #95 NORTH
EXIT ROUTE #395 NORTH
EXIT 12TH STREET, NW
Stay in Left Lane
LEFT ON E STREET, NW
Parking lots on E Street between 12th and 13th, and on 12th or 13th between E and F Streets.
E Street becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th. The National is at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
FROM BALTIMORE AND EAST OF D.C.
BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON PARKWAY – ROUTE #295 TOWARD WASHINGTON
EXIT RIGHT TO ROUTE #50 WEST – TOWARD WASHINGTON
Becomes New York Avenue
Continue about 10 miles
LEFT ON 4TH STREET, NW
RIGHT on E STREET, NW
Parking lots on E Street between 12th and 13th, and on 12th or 13th between E and F Streets.
E Street becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th. The National is at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
FROM SOUTH ARLINGTON AND ALEXANDRIA
RTE #1 NORTH OR #I-395 EAST
EXIT (Or from Route #I-395 Continue) ONTO 14TH STREET BRIDGE INTO DOWNTOWN D.C.
RIGHT ON PENNSYLVANIA AVE, NW
LEFT ON 13TH ST. NW ONE BLOCK TO E STREET, NW
Parking lots on E Street between 12th and 13th, and on 12th or 13th between E and F Streets.
E Street becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th. The National is to the left at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
FROM ANNAPOLIS AND THE EASTERN SHORE AND ROUTE #50
ROUTE #50 WEST TOWARDS WASHINGTON
Becomes New York Avenue
Continue about 10 miles
LEFT ON 4TH STREET, NW
RIGHT on E STREET, NW
Parking lots on E Street between 12th and 13th, and on 12th and 13th between E and F Streets.
E Street becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th. The National is at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
UPPER MARLBORO, ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE AND SUITLAND AREA
SUITLAND PARKWAY WEST
EXIT ROUTE #395
Follow signs toward Maine Avenue and Richmond/Downtown exit)
EXIT 12TH STREET NW – DOWNTOWN
LEFT ON E STREET, NW
Parking lots on E Street between 12th and 13th, and on 12th or 13th between E and F Streets.
E Street becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th. The National is at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
FROM FREDERICK, GAITHERSBURG, WEST OF D.C.
ROUTE #270 SOUTH
At the Beltway – Route #495, follow the signs to Northern Virginia
Cross Bridge.
EXIT RIGHT TO GEORGE WASHINGTON PARKWAY.
EXIT RIGHT AROUND TO THEODORE ROOSEVELT BRIDGE ON LEFT
STAY IN MIDDLE LANE TO CONSTITUTION AVENUE
Go 12 blocks.
LEFT ON 12TH STREET, NW
LEFT ON E STREET, NW
Parking lots on E Street between 12th and 13th, and on 12th or 13th between E and F Streets.
E Street becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th. The National is at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
FROM UPPER D.C., CONNECTICUT AVENUE OR 16TH STREET
SOUTH TO H STREET, NW – OR FROM 16TH STREET SOUTH TO K STREET, NW
RIGHT ON 13TH STREET, NW
Parking lots on E Street between 12th and 13th, and on 12th or 13th between E and F Streets.
E Street becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th. The National is to the left at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
FROM FAIRFAX, NORTHERN VIRGINIA SUBURBS, AND ROUTE #66
ROUTE #66 EAST TOWARD D.C.
CONTINUE STRAIGHT ONTO THEODORE ROOSEVELT BRIDGE
STAY IN MIDDLE LANE TO CONSTITUTION AVENUE
LEFT ON 12TH STREET, NW
Go two blocks
LEFT ON E STREET, NW
Parking lots on E Street between 12th and 13th, and on 12th or 13th between E and F Streets.
E Street becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th. The National is at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
FROM GEORGETOWN and KEY BRIDGE
M STREET, NW, EAST
M STREET BECOMES PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AS IT ANGLES OUT OF GEORGETOWN
LEFT ON 17TH STREET, NW
Go one block
RIGHT ON H STREET, NW
RIGHT ON 13TH STREET, NW
Parking lots on E Street between 12th and 13th, and on 12th or 13th between E and F Streets.
E Street becomes Pennsylvania Avenue at 13th. The National is to the left at 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
Across the world, we see a steady stream of news reports by those who seek to deny others freedom of conscience and freedom of worship. Whatever your religion (or none at all), you can be certain that houses of worship are being protested, vandalized, or bombed around the world – and your freedom of conscience is under attack.
Google news keeps a steady stream of reports on attacks on houses of worship under topics such as “church vandalism,” “temple vandalism,” “mosque vandalism,” and “synagogue vandalism.” There are so many attacks on houses of worship around the world, it is almost impossible to keep up with the endless list of hate and violence.
Global Violence and Hate against Religious Centers
In Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and the United States, such violence against houses of worship and religious adherents is a widespread disease of hate. But whoever is responsible for such violence, whatever such groups and individuals claim to believe, and whatever their “rationale” may be – there is no doubt that Hate is Hate – no matter who, why, what, where, or how. We must challenge such hate against our fellow human beings and those who would deny our universal human right to freedom of religion and freedom of conscience for all people.
Church Burned Down in Malaysia -- Mosque Burned Down in United States -- Hate is Hate
Such global violence against religious centers is so widespread and so numerous, the incidents cannot be thoroughly summarized. Moreover, such global violence against religious centers and people of every different faith continue on a near-daily basis around the world. Hate and intolerance knows no boundaries.
In America Today: Churches, Mosques (TIRCC), Synagogues, Other Houses of Worship Attacked
Many of these attacks have been designed to send a very specific message of hatred to undermine and defy human beings’ right to freedom of religion and freedom of worship. In Los Angeles, a Hispanic Christian church was vandalized with a cross defiled and a knife in a painting of the Virgin Mary. In Tennessee, a mosque was vandalized with with the message “Muslims go home.”
Raw Hate: Knife in Painting of Virgin Mary at Christian Church in LA (Photo: ABC); "Muslims Go Home" Vandalism in Tennessee (Photo: John Partipilo / The Tennessean)
DC - Attack on Holocaust Memorial Museum (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) / Florida: Man Attacking Mosque with Pipe Bomb (FBI)
In the United States alone, there has been a steady stream of individuals accused of terrorist acts and plots, associated with religious extremism and extremism. Such major figures in recent American news reports have included: Nidal Hassan, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, Faisal Shahzad, and the Hutaree militia. But the list and the numbers of those who channel their hatred of people of other religions and religious institutions is an ever-growing fire of anti-human rights rage that continues to destroy people’s lives, families, cities, and even their houses of worship around the world.
In America: Recent Products of Hate against Other Religions and Religious Freedom: Nidal Hassan, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, Faisal Shahzad, Hutaree Militia
To work towards an end to such terrorism, we must first work towards an end to such hatred, disrespect, and contempt for each other’s universal human rights. For some people, some organizations, and even some nations, that must begin with acknowledging the very existence of our unqualified, universal human rights.
Certainly there are many attacks that we have not mentioned in this incomplete summary of some of the violence against houses of worship and religious faiths that we have seen. Nor have we tried to catalog the numbers of attacks by individual faiths. In different parts of the world, there are more attacks on some faiths’ houses of worship than on others. We readily recognize and acknowledge this fact. But whether there are more attacks on churches, synagogues, mosques, or Hindu or Buddhist temples really is not our point.
The point is that such attacks anywhere on houses of worship of any faith are attacks everywhere on all of our freedom of religion, freedom of worship, and freedom to believe. You may have noticed that a burned down mosque, synagogue, church, or temple all essentially look alike – that was the point of including such images together. Like our human rights, hate is also universal – and the consequences of hate are also the same.
The balance we are seeking is found in our consistent support of such universal human rights – not in choosing that such rights are only important when selected houses of worship of faiths are attacked. Hate is hate and it is always wrong, and always a challenge to our universal human rights.
Amidst these global waves of hate and violence against houses of worship, we should be seeing broader and more frequent calls from community and religious leaders to defy and condemn such attacks. But a response by such leaders is not enough, because such global attacks on our right to freedom of conscience and right to worship freely is not just their responsibility. It is our responsibility. It is our responsibility to equality and liberty for all people of all faiths (including those whose conscience reject organized religions) to defend all of our fellow human beings’ right to believe and to worship.
Relative Freedom of Religion or Universal Freedom of Religion?
A growing trend among some is the belief that our universal human rights of freedom of religion, conscience, and worship are somehow “relative” to certain parts of the world, certain faiths, and only certain situations. There is a growing trend that some want to call for relative freedom of religion – only for their faith, their conscience – and only when it suits them where they live. Some are determined to try to “tailor” such human rights to only those faiths, those beliefs, those forms of worship they approve. Such relativists believe that where they live, the universal human rights of freedom of worship only exists for those they agree with and can tolerate.
But relative human rights are no human rights. Relative freedom of religion, conscience, and worship is no freedom of religion, conscience, and worship. Such relativism is a cancer to human rights progress because some get the illusion of tolerance, respect, and even freedom – just until there isn’t. Freedom of religion, conscience, and worship must extend not only to people like us and people we like, but also to those who we disagree with, don’t approve of, and even those who challenge the very human rights and freedoms we all enjoy.
We cannot decide that for some religions that we like in some areas of the world, that they have the right to build houses of worship, and for religions that we don’t like that they do not have the right to build houses of worship.
A universal human right of freedom of religion is not “relative” to only those we agree with and to only certain parts of the world.
Such inalienable human rights for all people is the human code of conduct that supports laws to ensure orderly life, a standard of respect and human dignity that we each should expect, and most importantly, the trust that we must find within each other as human beings for continued co-existence on our shared Earth.
We ensure equality and liberty on a local level, in part, by ensuring that no one is above the law. On a global level, the stakes and the consequences for world peace are even greater. If we seek peace, dignity, and justice, we must also agree that no one is above our unqualified, universal human rights.
No one is “above the law” of our universal human rights, and no one has the right to deny our freedom of religion, freedom of conscience, and freedom of worship – by anyone, any place, at any time.
Our commitment to such universal human rights also requires a commitment to pluralism for all faiths. We don’t have to agree with each other on our religious views, or lack thereof, but we do have to respect each others right to our own beliefs.
We have a right to disagree with those who we believe are using religious faiths to promote extremist hatred that attacks on our universal human rights. Moreover, we cannot ignore those who would use a religious disguise to incite criminal violence which we must reject. Inciting and committing criminal violence is not a protected religious right or worship. But too often, those who seek “relative” human rights seek mere disagreement with those of other faiths as a justification to prevent their freedom of religion and freedom of worship.
We also have an obligation to respect each others universal human rights for all faiths, conscience, and freedom of worship – no matter who seeks such freedoms, no matter where they seek such freedoms, no matter how much we may disagree with them.
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
On December 10, 1948, the nations of the world joined together to create a Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on December 10, 1948 as the world’s statement of “Never Again” to the hate of people of diverse races, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and beliefs. Seen in the context of the world reeling from the Nazi Holocaust of 6 million Jews, the UDHR remains one of the strongest international statements on consistent human rights for all people, and for people of all faiths. But when it comes to a right to worship freely, “never again” is now in too many parts of the world.
Such universal human rights and commitment to pluralism must not only extend to the nations that are signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but also to all nations and all people around the world. But to reach those individuals and nations that do not accept such unqualified, universal human rights of freedom of conscience, it is essential that those who do – set an example for the world.
We urge the people of the world to make a new consistent commitment to pluralism and to our unqualified, universal human rights. We stand united together, respecting our differences, and respecting one another. We are one common civilization of humanity, with diverse races, ethnic backgrounds, languages, genders, and religions. But we are all one human race. While we respect our differences, a consistent commitment to pluralism requires our united commitment to our unqualified, universal human rights – including the right to believe for all people, everywhere – without harassment, without intimidation, and without violence.
We urge such commitment to all people and their right to freedom of worship, to set an example to all others that we are Responsible for Equality and Liberty.
As we promised in our article “Cartoon Contests and Human Dignity,” on May 20, 2010, “Draw Muhammad Day,” we would publicly provide online the counter messages from Muslims emailed to us on the subjects of pluralism and human rights. To those with additional input on this article, please send your comments to info@realcourage.org. We are providing these comments unedited, as promised, to promote dialogue on this issue and to provide their point of view.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) welcomes the opportunity for dialogue on this issue with those we agree and those we disagree, and invite others to express their views on human rights and human dignity. As R.E.A.L. has previously stated, we reject the views of those that would call for or that would rationalize violence as a recourse to affronts and insults, and we also recognize that this issue is a much morewide spread issue than only a few “extremists” on either side. We also recognize that our universal human rights of freedom of expression also entail rights and responsibility to promote human dignity, which we have seen from history to be an imperative to human co-existence. We encourage respectful dialogue on both sides of this issue.
Below are the comments sent to Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) by individuals identifying themselves as Muslims on the “cartoon controversy.”
Shamira Kashmiri: Open Letter to Non-Muslims – Why We are Offended
“Molly Norris, in her statement apologizes to people of Muslim faith and asks that this ‘day’ be called off. She says this day has brought together a group of people who only want to draw obscene images,which are offensive to the Muslims, ‘who did nothing to endanger our right to expression in the first place.'”
“Despite being a predictable offense to Muslims and their repeated requests NOT to draw Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), cartoons have been drawn in defiance and published by Swedish Lars Vilks and by Danish political cartoonist Kurt Westergaard and now this…There have been numerous protests by Muslims over time, who have made it very clear to everyone that cartoons, paintings or depictions of Muhammad (pbuh) are disrespectful to our religious views. Now, to go a step further and draw ‘obscene’ cartoons is an obvious provocation even to the most mild mannered Muslim.”
“We want to make it very clear to everyone, that these objections are not limited to extremists or groups. I wish I could explain to you in so many words, the passion that an average Muslim feels about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). You would have to be a Muslim to understand that bond. The men/women who attacked the cartoonists were ordinary people…not criminals, terrorists or extremists. Call these crimes of passion, they were committed in a rage.”
“We don’t like it either when you draw obscene pictures of Jesus Christ (Hazrat Isa) or any of our other Prophets, peace be upon them all. We don’t like it when you use ‘Jesus Christ’ as an expletive or depict pictures with men urinating on the Bible (which you have now replaced with the Quran). Maybe that is freedom of expression for you, but WE find it extremely disrespectful. We love and respect all our Prophets, starting with Prophet Abraham (pbuh).”
“There is a shared responsibility in a shared society, which includes defending each other’s human dignity. We are endorsed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Offensive cartoons have appeared over time, especially about Black American and Jews, amongst others.”
“Mocking the human dignity of others in offensive cartoons depicting men and prophets seems to be the medium of those promoting disrespect and outright hatred. There are many things that we are free to do, but we do not do out of respect for others, so that we can co-exist peacefully.”
“What exactly do you think you will achieve by offending ALL Muslims across the globe? Superiority? Or do you think you will defame the Prophet and Islam? I assure you that this will not affect Islam or the character of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the least bit. Chronicles prove that he was a man of impeccable character, erudite, humble, soft spoken and very well mannered and a great leader. No amount of sketching is going to change that. However, we can pretty much predict the outcome of this provocation and offense to the Muslims… more hatred and animosity. Then there will be those who may retaliate, the extremists, the terrorists and those who, in a rage of passion decide to take the law in their own hands… and we, the rest of the Muslims have no control over that. What will you have achieved?”
“We want to publicly show you that we are larger than those who mock us and therefore:”
“‘We appeal to sensible, peace loving Americans and non-Muslims across the world, to stand with us and denounce this open provocation and disrespect. We hope for peace in the next generation, which is dependant on the history we write today. Let us choose Love, not Hate. Love always wins.'”
“Shamira Kashmiri”
[Note: we are publishing the comments of Shamira Kashmiri unedited to show the quoted comments. Please note that we do not, however, agree with any assessment that would suggest that “rage of passion” attacks are anything less than criminal attacks when they involve violence or threats of violence.]
I am responding to your article (which I greatly appreciated). I am a Muslim who wants to share my view of human rights. The following is my answer to your article.”
“The Best Answer is From the Quran.”
“The Quran on Human Dignity and Equality:”
“‘O mankind, Indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.’ (49:13)”
“‘We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.’ (17:70)”
“The Quran on Religious Pluralism:”
“‘To each of you We prescribed a law and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good. To Allah is your return all together, and He will [then] inform you concerning that over which you used to differ.’ (5:48)”
“‘Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews or Sabeans or Christians – those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness – no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve.’ (5:69)”
“The Quran on Freedom of Religion:”
“‘There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong.’ (2:256)”
“‘Had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed – all of them entirely. Then, [O Muhammad], would you compel the people in order that they become believers?’ (10:99)”
“‘The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills – let him believe; and whoever wills – let him disbelieve.’ (18:29)”
“The Quran on Peace and Forgiveness:”
“‘Abraham said, ‘Peace will be upon you. I will ask forgiveness for you of my Lord. Indeed, He is ever gracious to me.” (19:47)”
“‘The servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] ‘peace!’ (25:63)”
“‘If they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.’ (8:61)”
“‘Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; and turn away from the ignorant.’ (7:199)”
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns hate and violence. We support our unqualified, universal human rights, including our freedom of conscience and the pluralism to allow such freedoms. We urge all those who promote hate and violence to unburden their hearts from hate and violence.
When we promote cartoons that mock an individual religion, race, gender, or ethnicity, are we mocking them – or mocking human dignity?
In April 2010, a controversial U.S. comedy television cartoon “South Park” censored one of their broadcasts which was to include a cartoon of Muhammad along with other religious figures in their cartoon, after receiving threats from the New York blog “Revolution Muslim.” As a response to the South Park censorship, one cartoonist, Molly Norris, came up with the satirical suggestion to make May 20 as “Draw Muhammad Day.” Molly Norris was shocked that people took her “joke” seriously, and planned to indeed hold a “Draw Muhammad Day” on May 20; Ms. Norris has since called for this to be canceled, but some still plan to do this.
Despite the predictable offense to Muslims, a number of cartoonists have done cartoons of Muhammad and Muslims. Cartoons of Muhammad have been done and published by Swedish artist Lars Vilks and by Danish political cartoonist Kurt Westergaard. There has been an extreme reaction to these (and other) cartoons. Lars Vilks was recently assaulted during a lecture on free speech in Sweden, and was the target of a transatlantic murder plot that including two American women promoting violent jihad. In January 2010, Kurt Westergaard’s home was broken into by a man with an axe and a knife. Both have received numerous death threats. There have been numerous threats and protests by Muslims offended by cartoon of Muhammad. Such outrage is not limited only to violent extremists, as many Muslims view images of Muhammad to be disrespectful to their religious views.
Nor is such outrage limited to individuals and groups. On April 15, 2008, the Pakistan National Assembly passed a resolution to urge the United Nations to support an international death penalty for those responsible for such cartoon “blasphemy.” This Pakistan National Assembly session was attended by Pakistan Prime Minister Gilani, “who arrived moments after the passage of the resolutions.” So while it may be comforting to only subscribe such concerns to a few “radicals” in groups like “Revolution Muslim,” clearly there is a broader group around the world who find such cartoons outrageous enough to warrant “capital punishment.”
In the West, there have been a number of articles on this subject by Muslim authors, explaining why Muslims are offended by such cartoons. On Muslim author, Shahed Amanulla, decries the idea of “Draw Muhammad Day” as “Collectively Punishing Muslim Americans.” Another Muslim author, Zahed Amanullah, states that while he is offended by such cartoons, “For many Muslims, pointing to a cartoon, a teddy bear, or a voodoo doll and saying it’s the prophet, doesn’t make it so. We know better than to worship them.” Mr. Amanullah clearly states that there is diversity of opinion on this subject among Muslims.
Public comments to such articles by Muslim authors often complain that they don’t sufficiently defend our human rights of freedom of expression. So I am writing this from the perspective of a non-Muslim supporter of our universal human rights, with a statement on our responsibility for human dignity, a message to non-Muslim readers, and a message to Muslim readers.
Human Rights and Responsibilities include Human Dignity
Does our human rights include the “right” to be offensive? Yes, they do. But along with our rights also come responsibilities that are inherent in any shared society. That includes the responsibility to also defend each others’ human dignity. Such commitment to human dignity is a fundamental part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, signed by the United States of America and other nations of the world.
Human dignity is also recognized in the preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which recognizes “the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” The signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948 by the nations of the world included a statement that the United Nations recognized such rights as part of their respect “in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women.”
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was created in the aftermath of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany, a nation that brought crimes against humanity to a level not previously witnessed by mankind. But one of the Nazis’ first tool to degrade and attack human dignity was Julius Streicher’sDer Sturmer newspaper created in 1923; Streicher was inspired to join the Nazi party after hearing an Adolf Hitler speech in 1921.
From 1923 through the end of Nazi Germany, Der Sturmer (“the Attacker”) was a publication that attacked the humanity and dignity of Jews in Germany and around the world, using “cartoons.” The notorious Der Sturmer cartoons were historically significant in spreading images to degrade Jews and portray them as enemies against Germans and all of humanity. The Der Sturmer anti-Semitic newspaper and cartoons were used to spread hate against Jews throughout Germany among the common man, and were distributed to Germans in countries around the world. The Calvin College states that the distribution reached over 2 million readers at one point. Along with the cartoons degrading and spreading hatred towards Jews, Der Sturmer’s fevered pitch of hate against Jews called for extermination of the Jewish people, for which Julius Streicher was tried and convicted of war crimes. The Nuremberg courts that convicted him warned of “the poison that he has put into the minds of millions of young boys and girls will continue on for years to come, since he concentrated so much of his hatred for the Jews.”
Anyone who has seen the Der Sturmer cartoons and articles can readily see the truth in this. Jews were caricatured in hateful ways that did not end with Nazi Germany. The hate cartoons by Der Sturmer and others sought to degrade, dehumanize, and strip the dignity from Jews. Yet the Der Sturmer hate cartoons remain alive on the Internet, and are part of the root web site of the “white nationalist hate group” Stormfront in America. In America, the Der Sturmer cartoons are viewed as part of our freedom of expression – despite all the horrors that they contributed to.
How can humanity not have learned its lessons after seeing the consequences of demonizing and degrading identity groups in Nazi Germany? But we know it did not and has not. Even as the United States of America was signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, offensive cartoons continued to appear and have continued to appear over the decades — especially about black Americans.
Nor have such offensive cartoons been limited to only “fringe” organizations, or relegated only to distant history. Racial caricature cartoons of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have appeared in the Washington Post and many other publications. The parade of racial caricature cartoons of President Barack Obama have been in many places.
Iran has hosted an International Holocaust Cartoon Competition of its own for those who deny that the Holocaust took place. In many parts of the Arab press (as well as the Western media), anti-Semitic cartoons degrading and dehumanizing Jews and Israeli leaders have been commonly published for many years.
There seems to be no end of ways to create offensive cartoons about any race, religion, gender, or national origin. Mocking the human dignity of others in offensive cartoons depicting men, women, children seems to be the great equalizer of those promoting disrespect and some cases, outright hatred. Still, offensive cartoons have been defended by our freedom of expression.
We respect such universal human rights. But we also recognize, as did the United Nations in their Universal Declaration of Human Rights that all human beings are also equal in dignity as well. Such human dignity is not just a right, it is also a responsibility.
A Message to Non-Muslim Readers
Cartoons about Muhammad has caused an outcry of indignation by offended Muslims, especially in Muslim majority nations. To non-Muslim readers, I am aware that one of the main reasons for the continued popularity of cartoons about Muhammad and Muslims to some non-Muslims is a defiance to those telling you that you are not allowed to do this. The perspective is “I’ll show them what I can and cannot do. I’ll show them about how they seek to silence my freedom of expression.” People like to win arguments, and they don’t like being told what they can and cannot express. But there is also a point at which your reason must also win over your emotions of frustration.
There are many things that we are “free” to do, but we do not do out of respect for others, as part of civil society, and to peacefully co-exist. We are free to spit on our neighbor’s lawn, but if we want to be good neighbors that live in peace, we do not. Do you feel deprived, censored, from not offending your neighbor? Of course not. You know better. You have to live together.
But when it comes to cartoons about Muhammad and Muslims, such reason seems to disappear. Some seek to demonize Muslims in cartoons to prove their “freedom of expression.” What do you really think you are accomplishing by offending Muslims? Do you think that demonizing Muslims will impact religious extremism or extremism? What minds do you think contempt will change? What hearts do you think disrespect will reach?
Some non-Muslims are simply angry, tired of being threatened, and want to “strike back” at religious extremists by targeting all Muslims. Have you considered that by seeking to offend all Muslims to get back at religious extremists that you have judged all Muslims as one, singular monolithic group that must all think and believe the same way? How different is it for non-Muslims to condemn all Muslims than it is for Muslim religious extremists to condemn all non-Muslims unequivocally?
In your anger and frustration, aren’t you becoming exactly what you seek to condemn?
What really infuriates many of you is the inconsistency on public condemnations of offensive expressions. This is especially the case among many Christians, whose images are regularly defiled and disgraced in art galleries, national television, on the Internet. Some believe that “well, if our religious views can be mocked, why can’t theirs?” But you also know “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Christians also are commanded to love their fellow human beings. Currently a popular anti-Islam website has an image of the cartoon character “Calvin” urinating on the Qur’an. It is no small irony that the image is simply a Photoshop modification of the cartoon character “Calvin” urinating on the Christian cross, or anything else someone respects.
You can choose to be different from those whose actions outrage you, or you can choose to be no different. Which choice do you think will gain you credibility in the world? Have we learned nothing from humanity’s history of living together?
A Message to Muslim Readers
To Muslim readers, it is reasonable to expect respect and human dignity. It is reasonable to expect that your religious views and images are not offended. Such human dignity is both a right and a responsibility. However, we must all recognize that statements and images that we merely view as offensive are not a crime. We may view such images and comments as disrespectful, contemptible, but we also know that “two wrongs don’t make a right.” While the majority of the likely Muslim readers are no doubt stating, “of course, I know that,” the reality is that in many parts of the world (including in the West), there are those who continue to seek to punish “blasphemy” with capital punishment – either legally or by taking the law into their own hands and claiming they are divinely guided.
To challenge such views, it is essential that more Muslims are visible to the public in supporting our unqualified, universal human rights, and are visible to the public taking exception to those who would defy such freedoms. We need more public demonstrations of our shared commitment for human rights, pluralism, and dignity – and not just on the Internet or in conference rooms, but in the public together.
I know that you have other things to do with your life besides condemning Muslim extremists and other extremists. You have family, school, job, and other responsibilities that demand your time and attention. But the hope for peace for the next generation is largely dependent on the history that we write today. Whether that history is only written by the angry and the offensive or whether that history is written by those committed to our universal human rights – is our decision. We must continue to defend such human rights by defying religious extremists who would rationalize violence and hate against others.
I offer Muslim readers the opportunity on May 20 to publicly express online their own commitment to our universal human rights and pluralism, as a counter to “Draw Muhammad Day.” Provide your responses on your commitment to our universal human rights and pluralism via at info@realcourage.org, and they will be shared with the world on Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)’s web site at RealCourage.org.
I invite you to use May 20 as an opportunity to publicly show that you are larger than those who would mock you and share your convictions on our shared human rights and pluralism.
Our Choices, Our Responsibilities
Contempt and hate have the same universal application, regardless of our religion, race, gender, or ethnicity.
But we can choose a different path. Instead of choosing universal contempt, we can choose a path of universal human rights and dignity.
We share a common conscience towards how we treat humanity and how respect each other. We share a common responsibility to our shared universal human rights. We share a common obligation to upholding each others human dignity.
I have dusted off one of my own “cartoon” characters from when I was a small boy, a stick man figure that I used to call “Mr. Blank.” I have added him here to make a point – anyone can make a cartoon, everyone has free expression. It is our choice and our responsibility how we use that free expression.
We are Responsible for Equality And Liberty.
In defending those universal human rights, we are also Responsible for Human Dignity.
Today, at the White House, supporters of R.E.A.L. will be asking U.S. President Obama and Afghanistan President Karzai to reconsider the planned discussions on “reintegration” and “reconciliation” of Taliban supremacists in Afghanistan, including suggestions to allow them to return to the police and armed forces.
The reason that the United States of America is in Afghanistan today is because of the September 11 attacks on America by Al-Qaeda terrorists, with the Afghanistan Taliban providing a safe haven for such terrorist training and plots to kill thousands of Americans. The statutory reason that the United States is in Afghanistan is based on the September 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, which gives vague terms around what the American military can do in response to those associated with the 9/11 attacks.
But if we have learned anything from the 9/11 attacks, it is that there are those in the world who deliberately and consciously seek to reject our unqualified, universal human rights. There are those who reject our freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, freedom of press, and our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There are those who reject a pluralist society that respects our differences, but ensures our unity in an omniculture of universal human rights.
Any foreign or domestic policies that ignore human rights and that ignore women’s rights (half of humanity) are bad decisions, and directions that we will not support.
We have seen a steady stream of HATE against women in Afghanistan, some of it by the Taliban, and some of it by the Afghanistan government. Such hate begins with a conscious and deliberate rejection of our unqualified, universal human rights. Such hate and rejection of human rights is the same root cause of terrorist tactics whether they are domestic or international. This is what American and Afghanistan government policy must first address.
But the rejection of human rights for women and others goes beyond the Taliban. The Taliban are a reflection of such hate also found in the Afghanistan government and society.
In Afghanistan, Americans must ask where is the policy for human rights? Where is the policy to address the root causes of terrorism?
What are we fighting for?
Human rights and women’s rights are not an afterthought, not a marginal issue for human peace, and certainly not inconsequential in addressing the ideological basis for terrorism tactics.
We will have no security without human rights. We will have no security without women’s rights.
We will have no conscience if we abandon the Afghanistan women to hate, misogyny, violence, and yes – the TERRORISM – of the Taliban and those who view women as less than human beings.
When we abandon the victims of terrorism, we enable terrorists ourselves.
Choose Love, Not Hate. Love Wins.
Afghanistan: Girls recovering from poison gas attack (Photo: Reuters/Mohammad Ishaq)
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) is planning a public demonstration to call for human rights in Afghanistan and our opposition to the ideology of the Taliban. We call for U.S. and other government policies to make women’s rights a priority in their decisions. Decisions that do not prioritize women’s rights – half of humanity – are decisions that we will always question.
Our demonstration will be on Wednesday, May 12 from 12 Noon to 2 PM in Washington DC at Lafayette Park and the White House sidewalk. The demonstration will coincide with Afghanistan President Karzai’s and United States President Obama’s meeting on May 12 to plan “reconciliation” or “reintegration” between members of the Taliban and the Afghanistan nation.
We will be joined by women and men, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Jews, and people of diverse races and ethnic origins – who share our commitment to unqualified, universal human rights and to pluralism.
We support efforts to achieve peace, but we also know that peace without human rights, will only provide more suffering to the most vulnerable. We seek to keep hope alive for human rights for all in Afghanistan.
We remain concerned about the false belief that Taliban members will allegedly “renounce violence” against soldiers and tanks, when they may instead continue a reign of terrorism against Afghanistan women, minorities, and other Muslims.
— the perspective among some in Afghanistan that there is a “good Taliban” and a “bad Taliban” – we believe that those who continue to accept the Taliban’s anti-human rights ideologies do not offer any “good” for the Afghanistan people or for peace
— the history of the Taliban ideology in oppressing women, religious minorities, and Muslims in Afghanistan
— the reports that reconciliation plans may include allowing Taliban members “to join the Afghan army or police force”
We call for any “peace” to ensure that women’s, minorities’, and Muslims’ universal human rights are made a priority in Afghanistan. We believe that Taliban supremacists are no different than any other religious or racial supremacists. We urge people of all religions, all ethnic groups, all genders, and all races to join us in our concern for a real peace, based on a commitment to human rights in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Taliban "Police" Beat Women in Public - in Kabul - in 2001 - We Must Never Let Afghanistan Return to This
The Taliban’s anti-human rights ideological views are no different than any other organization that defies our universal human rights. So we ask President Obama to tell President Karzai “no to reconciliation” with those who continue to promote the Taliban supremacist ideology. Those who renounce the Taliban supremacist ideology and who support our universal human rights are the only ones that America should be supporting reconciliation policies towards. Support for our unqualified, universal human rights must be a priority for any peace in Afghanistan.
We will meet at Lafayette Park at 12 Noon. Our planned goal is to be there from 12 Noon to 2 PM. I have met with the National Park Service about the Lafayette Park and White House sidewalk area, we expect to receive our permit by fax by close of business on May 11 (we spoke to NPS on May 11 AM and they confirm this). However, we don’t require a permit for less than 25 individuals (backup plan). In addition, we submitted our assembly notification to the Metropolitan DC police of our intent to protest in the Pennsylvania Avenue blocked off street area between Lafayette Park and the White House.
To quote Demond Tutu, “Reconciliation is not about being cosy; it is not about pretending that things were other than they were. Reconciliation based on falsehood, on not facing up to reality, is not true reconciliation and will not last.”
May 2010: “Hamid Karzai is failing Afghan women”
— Anber Raz: “The message of the women was loud and clear: they were not prepared to see their rights sacrificed and did not support the plan to give positions of power to the Taliban. The Taliban have many differing aims, but one thing has remained consistent: their opposition to women’s rights and equality.”
— “when Karzai met with a leading Afghan militant group last March as part of the process leading up to reintegration, one of its main demands was for a new constitution – so you may forgive the women of Afghanistan for fearing the worst.”
If you are taking the Washington DC subway (Metro), you should exit at the Farragut West (Orange/Blue Lines), Farragut North (Red Line), or McPherson Square (Orange/Blue Lines) metro stops.
FARRAGUT NORTH METRO STATION to WHITE HOUSE Walking Directions: 1. Exit station through CONNETICUT AVE & K ST NW entrance. 2. Walk a short distance S on Connecticut Ave NW. 3. Walk straight on 17th St NW. 4. Walk approx. 1 block S on 17th St NW. 5. Turn left on I St NW. 6. Walk a short distance E on I St NW. 7. Turn right on Connecticut Ave NW. 8. Walk approx. 1 block S on Connecticut Ave NW. 9. Bear right on Jackson Pl NW. 10. Walk approx. 1 block S on Jackson Pl NW. 11. Turn left on Pennsylvania Ave NW. 12. Walk approx. 1 block E on Pennsylvania Ave NW.
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) seeks to recognize the NYC street vendors who alerted police to the Times Square car bomb, which included a Muslim vendor Aliou Niasse and his brother Mohamate Niasse, and Duane Jackson and Lance Orton. (ThinkProgress reports on Niasse’s religion.) If anyone has any photos of the Niasse brothers, please email and let us know, so that we can update this posting.
NYC Hero Duane Jackson (Photo: Reuters/Chip East)Hero Lance Orton (Photo: NY Daily News/Giancarli)
— Reuters May 2, 2010 reports: — “Vendor Lance Orton, a Vietnam veteran, is being credited by local authorities and media with tipping mounted policeman Wayne Rhatigan about a suspicious Nissan sport utility vehicle on West 45th Street near Broadway on Saturday evening.”
— “Several other vendors on that street corner also spotted the car and said they scrambled to tell the police.”
— “‘My brother told me this car has had smoke in it for a long time. Call 911,’ said Mohamate Niasse, 52, where was back in his stall in Times Square after the incident, alongside his brother Ali, selling pictures of the city.”
— “Niasse, who lives in Harlem and has sold his wares in the busy midtown Manhattan district for six years, said Orton then told them he had already sent someone to alert the police.”
— “Duane Jackson, another Vietnam vet who said he helped alert police, was back selling handbags and T-shirts across the road from where the vehicle carrying the bomb had been parked.”
— “‘There are a bunch of us disabled vets selling here, and we’re used to being vigilant because we all know that freedom isn’t free,’ Jackson, 58, told The New York Times. ‘All of us vets here are the eyes and ears for the cops.'”
— London Times May 2, 2010 reports:
— “Aliou Niasse, a street vendor selling framed photographs of New York, said that he was the first to spot the car containing the bomb, which pulled up right in front of his cart on the corner of 45th street and Broadway next to the Marriott hotel.”
— “‘I didn’t see the car pull up or notice the driver because I was busy with customers. But when I looked up I saw that smoke appeared to be coming from the car. This would have been around 6.30pm.'”
— “‘I thought I should call 911, but my English is not very good and I had no credit left on my phone, so I walked over to Lance, who has the T-shirt stall next to mine, and told him. He said we shouldn’t call 911. Immediately he alerted a police officer near by,” said Mr Niasse, who is originally from Senegal and who has been a vendor in Times Square for about eight years.
— “Duane Jackson, a 58-year-old handbag vendor, said that he noticed the car at around 6.30pm and wondered who had left it there.”
— “He said that he alerted a passing mounted police officer. “That’s when the smoke started coming out and then we heard the little pop pop pop like firecrackers going out and that’s when everybody scattered and ran back,’ he said.”
On April 30, 2010 in Washington DC, human rights activists and members of the Sudanese diaspora held demonstrations and a protest march to condemn the ongoing genocide and violence in Darfur, and the fraudulent elections that led to the “re-election” of Omar Al-Bashir. Al-Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war criminal charges. Damanga had publicized this event as “Say No to Sudan’s Stolen Election.” Damanga’s Executive Director Mohamed Yahya also provided an article on this subject to the Salem News, entitled “First African American president to Promote Injustice in African Country.”
The event was to allow Sudanese from all over the United States to come to Washington D.C. to demonstrate their rejection of Sudan’s fraudulent, rigged election and to call upon the US administration not to legitimize the regime led by the indicted war criminal Al-Bashir. Sudanese traveled from across the East Coast from Boston to Richmond to congregate in Washington DC to express their views on April 30, 2010.
— Mohamed Yahya, Damanga
— Jimmy Mulla, Voices for Sudan
— Fakiri Taha, Nubia Project
— William Bol Gai Deng, Southern Sudan Project
— Nuraddin A. Abdulmannan, Nubia Project
— Adam M. Ahmed Yahya, member of the FUR Solidarity
— Mohamed Altayib, Member of the Sudanna organization
— Muhammad Al-Hassan, a candidate in this year’s election
— Nasredin Hajam
— Niemat Ahmadi, Darfur Women’s Action Group (DWAG)
— Gloria White-Hammond, My Sister’s Keepers
— Meryl Zordanki, Africa Action
— Shaza Abdulla
— Faith McDonnell, Institute for Religion & Democracy
— Terry Nickelson, Our Humanity in the Balance
— Jeffrey Imm, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
Damanga’s Executive Director Mohamed Yahya expressed the concerns and voice of many, speaking of his disappointment and sense of betrayal by the Obama administration on the issue of Darfur and Southern Sudan. At Lafayette Park near the White House, Mohamed Yahya asked how President Obama could allow his representatives to preside over what has been repeatedly reported as a fraudulent election, with a candidate indicted by the ICC for war crimes. Mohamed Yahya voiced his concerns also in an article published by the Salem News, entitled “First African American president to Promote Injustice in African Country.”
At Lafayette Park, Mr. Muhammad Al-Hassan, one of the candidates who ran for office in the recent Sudanese elections spoke. Mr. Al-Hassan confirmed the frequent reports of election fraud that had occurred in the recent Sudanese “elections.”
Other Sudanese speakers echoed his concerns, with stories and narratives of their own. “William” Bol Gai Deng of the Southern Sudan Project came from Richmond, Virginia and spoke about his struggles working as an African slave in Sudan, and the struggles of Sudanese people to receive equal dignity and human rights throughout Sudan. He spoke of how those who would get “paid” were sometimes promised a “cow” for each year’s wages, equivalent to 50 U.S. dollars, and even then such “wages” were withheld from them. Mr. Deng also stated how he sought equality and liberty fairly for all Sudanese people, with laws that were not dependent on any single religious views, but treated all people equally.
He and other Sudanese speakers spoke of the ongoing violence, genocide, and killings in Darfur. They expressed their concerns about the expectations that Sudan will soon be divided into two countries, and what that would mean for their people, and they hoped that someday Sudan would be a united nation with human rights, justice, and dignity for all people. Nuraddin A. Abdulmannan expressed concern that a divided Sudan would lead to a northern Sudan that could host extremists that could become a new haven for terrorism to threaten not only Africa, but also the world.
Meryl Zordanki and Faith McDonnell spoke of their commitment to human rights for the people of Darfur and Sudan, and their own experiences and disappointments with the latest widely reported fraudulent election results. Terry Nickelson spoke of the need for people to come together and take responsibility for human right atrocities in the world and not be dependent on the predictable disappointments of governments willing to compromise on basic human rights.
While marching from the White House to the U.S. State Department, the protesters carried signs stating “Freedom for Darfur,” “Stand with People of Sudan,” “Justice and Human Rights for Darfur,” and “Peace Begins with Justice in Sudan.” They chanted “Al-Bashir to the ICC,” “We Reject Rigged Elections,” and “Justice, Justice for Darfur,” as they marched to the U.S. State Department headquarters.
At the front of the U.S. State Department headquarters, the group requested that a representative of the U.S. State Department accept their statement. Mohamed Yahya, Jimmy Mulla, Niemat Ahmadai, Rev. Gloria White-Hammond, and Jeffrey Imm spoke.
Mohamed Yahya urged State Department Secretary Hillary Clinton to hear their concerns about Darfur and Sudan, and he led the protesters in protest chants at the U.S. State Department.
Gloria White-Hammond traveled from Boston to speak in front of the U.S. State Department with the Sudanese diaspora and human rights protesters. Reverence White-Hammond spoke of her own travels to Darfur and the need for Americans to recognize the essential human rights challenge that Darfur genocide and the latest “elections” represented to peace and human dignity.
Jeffrey Imm spoke to the law enforcement and security officers that surrounded the U.S. State Department headquarters entrance, and urged them to realize that the crisis in Darfur is both a human rights and a law enforcement crisis, comparing the situation in Sudan with the election of Al-Bashir to the election of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. Imm also stated that having an indicted war criminal leading a nation that was continuing genocide was also an international law enforcement issue as well.
Niemat Amadi spoke of the need to remember the continuing crisis of women in Darfur and the abuses that women continue to suffer every day in Sudan.
Jimmy Mulla thanked all those who traveled from different areas to represent the “voices” of the Sudanese diaspora and others that seek freedom and our universal human rights for Darfur and for all of Sudan.
Photographs:
Voices for Sudan Jimmy Mulla Organizes White House ProtestApril 30, 2010 - Protesters at White House / Lafayette Park - Image 1April 30, 2010 - Protesters at White House / Lafayette Park - Image 2April 30, 2010 - Protesters at White House / Lafayette Park - Image 3Mohamed Yahya Speaks of Disappointment in U.S. Obama Administration in Front of White House in Lafayette ParkFormer Candidate Muhammad Al-Hassan Speaks of Fraud in Sudan "Election"Meryl Zordanki of Action Africa Speaks on Reports of Fraudulent Election in SudanWilliam Deng Speaks of Slavery and Violence in SudanApril 30, 2010: Sudanese Diaspora and Human Rights Activists Protest Outside U.S. State Department in Washington DCU.S. State Department: Mohamed Yahya and Others Lead Protest Chants Challenging Fraudulent Elections in SudanResponsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)'s Jeffrey Imm Stands with Protesters for Sudan and Darfur Human Rights
To the US Secretary of the State, Madame Clinton
U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
Dear Madame Secretary:
As concerned members of the Sudanese community and its civil society, we are writing to express our grave concern about the recent Sudanese national elections. We come together today as diverse Sudanese leaders from all over the world to say we reject the rigged and fraudulent election and urge the U.S. government not to legitimize the victory and rule of the indicted war criminal Omar al-Bashir over our people in Sudan.
We welcome the recent statement by the U.S. State Department spokesperson that these elections will not bring the Government of Sudan redemption or legitimacy, as well as statements that Sudan’s elections did not meet international standards. However, we urge you to ensure that these declarations are committed to and applied by leaders at all levels of the U.S. government. U.S. policy toward Sudan must be based on a commitment to human rights and justice for all the people of Sudan. The lack of serious measures from the international community and the US in particular have emboldened al-Bashir’s government to continue its manipulative tactics in oppressing the people of Sudan.
We appreciate the United States’ efforts to help resolve Sudan’s multiple crises. Sudan’s national elections were one of the important milestones laid out in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed in 2005 with U.S. support. As Sudanese, we all hoped that a free and fair election could transform the country to a democratic nation, if all Sudanese people could participate in a secure environment free from oppression, fear and intimidation. However, these elections fell far short of fulfilling this dream. Instead, the elections were characterized by political repression and countless irregularities both before and during the election process that made the elections in both North and South Sudan far from free and fair or credible.
Sudan’s leading National Congress Party (NCP) manipulated the process, using all state organs and the state capacity to provide unfair advantage to its campaigns. Security blocked other political parties’ attempts at campaigning, organizing, and accessing the media. As a result, most other political parties boycotted the presidential contest and many other races.
It was also impossible for the Darfuri people to participate in the election process in any meaningful way. As stated by the European Union observer team, which withdrew from the region, the security situation was not conducive for elections to take place in Darfur. The lands of many Darfuri victims have also been occupied by Arab nomad settlers who were introduced to the area by the government of Sudan in exchange for taking part in the fighting and destruction in Darfur. This, combined with the fraudulent census and registration process, allowed for the intentional exclusion of countless Darfuris from the voting process.
With many of our families still on the ground, we are well aware that the security situation in our home region Darfur remains tense and volatile for the nearly three million displaced persons and refugees who have been driven from their homes and are still facing constant threats to their survival. Humanitarian access also remains blocked in many areas of Darfur, such as in the region of eastern Jebel Marra where aid groups that were forced to withdraw in February have
not been able to return. Attacks on civilians including rape and various forms of sexual violence against girls and women remain frequent and unaddressed. The abduction of aid workers and peacekeepers presents a huge challenge for the protection of civilians and provision of life-saving aid. The grave situation of committing heinous atrocities, forcibly displacing and replacing the original inhabitants of Darfur by Arab nomads from other countries for resettlement, combined with fraudulent census, will unequivocally jeopardize any endeavor of future peace process.
It is also important to note that, while many in the international community are well acquainted with difficulties in the implementation of Sudan’s CPA and the ongoing conflict in Darfur, residents of the Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile, Eastern Sudan and Nubia regions also face grave threats to life and liberty. The fate of popular consultations in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile remains unknown and the non-implementation of the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) leaves the grievances of the people unresolved and creates a potential for conflict. We recognize the challenges of dealing with al-Bashir’s regime, which has long specialized in divide-and-rule tactics and benefitted from intermittent focus by the international community on North-South issues and on Darfur. However, addressing the urgent situation in Darfur and the implementation of the CPA simultaneously is critical for the future of the entire country. The international community must recognize the urgency and hold the government of Sudan accountable for its actions in both regions.
Given the critical situation in the South with the referendum quickly approaching, we urge the U.S. to take serious measures to ensure that the oppression and irregularities of this election process are not repeated during the referendum. The people of the South must be able to exercise the right to decide their future.
The U.S. must also work with other U.N. Security Council member states to ensure better protection of civilians in Darfur by a more effective UNAMID peacekeeping force. It must also continue to push for an inclusive and genuine peace process that will address the root causes of the crises in Darfur and other areas of Sudan such Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile, Eastern Sudan, and Nubia Region. The United States must proactively support justice for victims of the
genocide in Darfur and continue to urge the execution of ICC arrest warrants for all those wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Madam Secretary, we call for your leadership in ensuring the U.S. takes serious and concrete steps to hold the Sudanese government accountable for respecting the human rights and democratic will of the people of Sudan. This begins with recognizing and working hard with international partners to address the abuses and irregularities that denied the Sudanese people free and fair elections.
Cc: President Obama
Sincerely,
The undersigned Civil Society and Community Leaders:
Mohmed Ahmed Eisa, Darfuri Activist/ Human Rights laureate, Boston. MA
Jimmy Mulla, President, Voices for Sudan, DC
Fakir Taha Jaweesh, Nubia Project, VA
Niemat Ahmadi, Darfur Women Action Group, DC
Nasma Abdalla Mohamed, Darfuri Activist, Washington, DC
Nagi Idris, Activist, VA
Nuraddin A. Manan, President Nubia Project, VA
Adam Yahya, President, Fur Solidarity of North America, Richmond VA
Parake Madout, Southern Sudanese Activist, Washington DC
Mahmed Daoud, Kush Movement, KM
Salah Abu Gabar Elhaj
Chair, Sudanese Democratic Alliance, VA
Mohaned Alhassan M H, Presidential Candidate /National Reform Party TX
Izzelddin Hohamed Alhassan, National; Reform Party TX
Nagi Iddris Nubia Project
Khalid Grase, Nubia Project, MD
Amal Allagabo, General Secretary, Darfur Women Action Group, VA
William Deng, President South Sudan Project, Richmond VA
Mohamed Mahmoud, Chair, Sudana, VA
Dr. Mahmoud Braima, Darfur Association of North America, Louisiana
Ahmed Adam Ali, President Darfur Association of Colorado, Denver
Mahdi Elkhalifa, Umma Party, VA
Page 4
Darfur Association of Dallas, TX
Darfur Association of Houston, TX
Darfur Association of Arizona
Darfur Association of Nebraska
Mr. Mansour Ahmed-, F Secretary-General- Fur Cultural Revival (Portland, ME)
Mr. Mohmmed Yahya, Director -Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
Adam Abakar, Darfurian Association of Utah,
Mr. Bakheit Shata, Darfur Community Organization (Omaha, Nebraska)
Mohamed E. Suleiman, Darfur’ Self Reliance Education, San Francisco Bay Area
Abdeljabar Seddik, Western Sudan Aid Relief in the USA Inc TX
. Darfurian Urgent Action of USA
. Care Unit for Unity and Development, Atlanta, GA
Activists
1. Dr. Adam Omer Lincoln, NE
2. Kamaldine Fort Wayne IN
3. Khalid Hanhdal Houston TX
4. Abdelrahim Khamis Houston TX
6. Adam Babiker Houston TX
7. Taragi Mustafa Ontario Canada
8. Basmat Ahmed Stone Mountain GA
9. Ezeldin Yahiya Dallas TX
10. Ismail Omer Dallas TX
11. Mohamed Hassan Omaha NE
12. El Gouzuli Sheruf Manhattan NY
13. Nusaiba Abbas Houston TX
14. Ahmed Yahya Stone Mountain GA
15. Hawa Ahmed Stone Mountain GA
16. Adam Abdullah Tucson AZ
17. Yahya Harun Dallas TX
19. Abdel Jabbar Seddik Dallas TX
20. Bakri Jumaa NJ
21. Abdo Ashoor Des Moines IA
22. Elsadiq Ashoor Des Moines IA
23. Mansour Ishaaq
24. Makki Makki Houston TX
25. Mohamed Haroon Dallas TX
26. Sulieman Awadallah Houston TX
28. Ibrahim Abdelrahman Houston TX
29. Elsadiq Jibril Houston TX
30. Abdel-Raziq Ibrahim Houston TX
31. Adam Mohamed Houston TX
32. Dr. Ismail Abdlla Baltimore MD
33. Jumaa Haree Manhattan NY
34. Alm Eldeen Adam Manhattan NY
35. Hassneen Sluman Fort Wayne IN
36. Ibrhim Adam Phoenix AZ
37. Salah Noreen AZ
38. Ahmed Elshikh Dallas TX
39. Elkhalee Shegfat Ph PA
European Diaspora
Mohammadain Mohamad Ishag, President -Darfur Culture Organization, Belgium
Ahamad Omar Ishag -Darfur Community Belgium
Mustafa A. Ali Dinar
Darfur Union, the Netherlands
Ahmed M.
Montana media are reporting on 200 residents protesting a pro-Nazi film that was shown at a public library in Kalispell, Montana by the group Pioneer Little Europe (P.L.E.) intended to recruit white supremacists to join that group. The P.L.E. film was shown by former Nazi Aryan Nations member Karl Gharst, who court documents have described as a “white supremacist.” Karl Gharst has served time in jail for felony threats. Gharst plans to show a Holocaust Denial film, “The Truth Behind the Gates of Auschwitz,” on May 29. On March 29, Karl Gharst showed a film “The Holocaust Debate.” In addition to Karl Gharst, the P.L.E. organizers included couple April Gaede and Mark Harrington, who were arrested on charges of simple assault and criminal mischief associated with a scuffle that resulted in knocking a camera out of one of the protester’s hands and breaking it.
Flathead Beacon: “Nazi Film Shown at Library Draws Hundreds of Protesters” — “Holding signs reading ‘No Neo-Nazis,’ and ‘No Hate in My Backyard,’ hundreds of valley residents turned out Thursday evening to protest the showing at the library in Kalispell of the film, ‘Epic: The Story of the Waffen SS,’ a film that takes an admiring view of the combat arm of the Nazis during World War II.”
— “It was the second film shown at the library by Kalispell resident Karl Gharst, who on March 29 screened a movie debating whether the Jewish Holocaust really occurred. Gharst said he planned to show a film titled, ‘The Truth Behind the Gates of Auschwitz,’ on May 29, and he plans other events for the summer.”
Daily Inter Lake reports: Pair arrested during Nazi movie protest — “Two members of a white separatist group were arrested during a protest over a pro-Nazi film shown at the Flathead County Library on Thursday night.”
— “Married couple Mark Harrington, 42, and April Gaede, 44, of Kalispell, who helped organize the film’s screening, were arrested by Kalispell Police on charges of simple assault and criminal mischief for their involvement in a scuffle that knocked the camera out of a protester’s hand and broke its flash.”
— KCFW: Tensions rise over alleged white supremacist movement
— KCFW reports: “Tensions rose Thursday evening as protesters and alleged white supremacists scuffled outside the Flathead County Library. The scene started remarkably quiet. For the second time in a month, a group called Pioneer Little Europe reserved a room at the library for a film showing. Protesters gathered early showing disapproval of what they see as an effort to recruit members to the group by showing an anti-semitic film. It’s the second time in a month. P.L.E. members tell us they believe in a white, European North America.”
— “Police say it was a fairly peaceful protest. That was until police escorted two members of P.L.E out in handcuffs. We’re told the P.L.E. members removed tonight are identified as April Gaede and Mark Harrington who are two of the P.L.E. organizers. Police say the two were arrested when they clashed with protesters taking photos.”
Daily Inter Lake also reports:
— “An estimated 200 people had crowded around the library to protest “Epic: The Story of the Waffen SS,” which apparently takes an admiring view of the combat arm of the Nazis during World War II. The film was screened by a white separatist group called Kalispell Pioneer Little Europe.”
— “Pioneer Little Europe members Harrington and Gaede moved to Kalispell from Bakersfield, Calif., in 2006 because of what they called the area’s racial tensions and since then have been active members in the white separatist movement.”
Montana residents protest showing of Nazi film
— AP reports: “Hundreds of Montana residents crowded around a library to protest a pro-Nazi film being shown by a white separatist group called Kalispell Pioneer Little Europe.”
— “It was the second film shown at the Flathead County Library by Karl Gharst, who on March 29 screened a movie debating whether the Jewish Holocaust really occurred. He says he plans to show another film, ‘The Truth Behind the Gates of Auschwitz,’ on May 29, and he plans other events for the summer.”
On April 27, 2010 The northwest Montana newspaper the Daily Inter Lake reported (by Jim Mann) reproted “Protest to greet supremacist film showing”
— The Daily Inter Lake reported “A protest is being organized Thursday against a planned showing of a film that advances ‘white-supremacy, anti-Semitism propaganda’ at the Flathead County Library in Kalispell.”
— “A similar protest happened when a film called ‘The Holocaust Debate’ was shown at the library in early April.”
— “That screening was organized by Karl Gharst, a Flathead Valley resident with former ties to a white supremacist group in Hayden Lake, Idaho.”
— “People who walked out of the screening characterized the film as a ‘Holocaust denial film.'”
— “The protest this week is being supported ‘by an alliance of faith-based ministries,’ according to a press release for the event.”
— “The alliance is urging those interested to turn out at the library at 6 p.m. with protest signs and cameras.”
— “‘If everyone brings their camera and actively takes pictures of the bad guys going in and out, it will be immensely effective in running them back under their rock,’ the release states.”
— “In 2004, Gharst was convicted in Flathead County District Court of threatening a social worker with the state Department of Health and Human Services.”
— “At the time, Gharst was from Hayden Lake, Idaho, and was described in court documents as ‘a self-admitted member of the Aryan Nations and a white supremacist,’ according to Inter Lake archives.”
— “Gharst originally was charged with a felony for threatening the state employee, calling her a ‘filthy mongrel’ and a ‘wild savage from the Flathead Indian Reservation,’ but eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.”
— “In a final exchange with District Judge Ted Lympus, Gharst called the judge foul names and acknowledged him with a Nazi salute.”
— “Gharst served five months in jail and was put on probation for two years.”
Montana: Photo of April 29 Protest of Nazi Film (Photo: KCFW)Montana: Photo of April 29 Protest of Nazi Film (Photo: Flathead Beacon/Lido Vizzutti)Montana: Photo of April 29 Protest of Nazi Film (Photo: Flathead Beacon/Lido Vizzutti)Screenshot of Stormfront Hate Group Forum Promoting April 29 Nazi Film in Montana
