18 Burst results for "Muslim Student Association"
The Mad Mamluks
"muslim student association" Discussed on The Mad Mamluks
"Criticize. We have to see looking into our hearts and looking and evaluating making sure every night we will go to bed, our bed, we do self at this hub. We do our recognized value on the basis of shura and Mojave. We drive our best via humans. We have made mistakes. We may still make mistakes, but our intentions are very clear. We ask a lot of data every single time. Those 7 individuals who are in their 90s, many of them actually, I was hoping somebody will show their pictures. Many of them are PhD scholars. They are highly educated. They spend their youth, they sacrifice their careers, they are good family time to see what we see today in our society. I'm sorry. I'm not since you mentioned something about you've mentioned this frequently about the shooter. I'm just curious, and I think maybe some other listeners may also be curious. How is the shooter chosen for it now? I mean, just as a general idea, I want to know is it a lifelong appointment? Is it like a voting? How did it happen? No? We followed us in our profits and all of us are so there is a process of it's probably one of the most democratic organization you can imagine. There's election process. So the core membership of votes for the shooter vote for the me, there's a term limit both for all our so these individuals actually have pictured before that. Me and name by myself as the current army and they have the previous immediate and standing behind 7 those great individuals who are in their late 80s who work for. So the election process is very simple, this is the picture of many of them are PhDs and highly educated, spend all the person in the middle, doctor tallat sultan is one of the founding members. He's the founder of MSA. He's one of the founding member of his now, and he is the founder of Muslim student association of the universities. Yes. Yes. This guy in blue and white circle in between. He's sold, but he's so precious. And he is affiliated with Islamic organization for 66 years. It's been every single minute of his life. That's why we are just standing behind trying to follow their footsteps. So the answer to your question is the election process. Do we have terms? And America can stand a state of maximum of four years in one consecutive time. Similar shura members. All positions are elected
ToddCast Podcast with Todd Starnes
"muslim student association" Discussed on ToddCast Podcast with Todd Starnes
"Wait, what? What? So you're telling me that an ancient painting of Muhammad and showing that painting of the pitcher Muhammad is like teaching that Hitler was a good guy? What's wrong with you people? So anyway, the Times article goes on, I was curious about who complaint. I mean, here it sounds to me like the professor, and she's probably a raging leftist, I don't know, that's not important. She was just trying to teach a class and look to me like she was trying to avoid any sort of conflict that might possibly erupt as a result of showing the ancient painting. I mean, that's what it looks like to me. So now this poor teacher is out of a job. It turns out the student who complained the student originally who complained in the classroom was the president of the Muslim student society. Doctor Lopez prater, a self described art nerd, said she knew about the potential for conflict when she began her online lecture with about 30 or so students. And she spent a few minutes explaining why she was showing the image how different religions have depicted depicted the divine and how standards have changed over time. May I just say this? Again, the college and their reaction to all of this is shocking. So they fired the teacher and they say, oh, we're guilty of islamophobia. Meanwhile, on many college campuses, they're literally putting crucifixes in vials and vans of urine. There's one museum display of Jesus or the mother Mary, somebody covered in cow dung. But that's okay. That's art. I'm just telling you. Doctor Lopez prater said no one in the class raised any concerns. There was no disrespectful commentary. After the class ended, a business major and president of the university's Muslim student association stuck around to voice her discomfort. Immediately afterward, doctor Lopez prater sent an email to her department head. Again, it sounds like she's doing everything by the book here. Miss baker, the Alison baker, the chair of the digital and studio art department responded to the email four minutes later. Quote, it sounds like you did everything right. She wrote, I believe in academic freedom, so you have my support. Well, that didn't last very long. As doctor Lopez predicted, the Muslim leader reached out to administrators. She wrote an apology explaining that sometimes diversity involves bringing contradicting uncomfortable and coexisting truce into conversation with each other. But it didn't seem to matter. And they fired this art professor. Now, the painting doesn't portray Muhammad doing anything illegal with children, or with farm animals, is just a painting of Muhammad from the 14th century. But according to the Islamic tradition, you're not allowed to show photographs or rather paintings of Muhammad. Can't do it. And there you go. Honestly, I'm surprised I will say this. I don't think that's over. And we saw this with what happened in France where they did this. They did the cartoon drawings of Muhammad, and that led to riots and all sorts of mayhem. It led to terrorism. So if I were miss Lopez prater, I would just be careful. You never know. It's a dangerous world. Very dangerous world..
The Mad Mamluks
"muslim student association" Discussed on The Mad Mamluks
"They believe that he came, he was fearing for his death, Musa Hassan. His father, he was fearing his death, so he put him in a well home made him go away. And so then he came back and then he went to hiding again forever. They call it labor, ahsoka, and they believe that he is in control of things. He's, you know, he can hear things. He can aid people, all these things, right? But he for she a person who's a 12 year rejects the imams is he considered a Shia anywhere no. No, he's not a Shia. And the way to now the way modern to show you or she has played this is that no, you're still a Muslim. How do you like me? You're a Muslim. But they say, but if you look a little book, so they'll say that in the afterlife, there's no Salvation for you. Jenna is closed for you. Because you die a death of Jackie yeah. Yes. Right? Yes. So do you guys know why I asked you series of questions and I'm glad thanks for the detail more is look if you want Sunnis and shias to have. Equal part in the MSA. First of all, any embassy that I've been of I've seen she was there nobody gives them any problems. Whether it was UIC, whether it was COD, whether any of these colleges, nobody really narrows or what do you call it? Ostracizes or bullies if you want to call it anyone that Shia. We used to have people in the MSA that were used to pray with us. Nobody made a big deal about it. Everyone just knew there were Shia, and they made it known that they were sharing they were proud of it. They used to wear the necklaces and everything like that. No one gave them major problem. But the other the reason why I'm mentioning this is that look, there's a reality to this world, all right guys, let's just be real about it, let's be objective about this. Whenever you have somebody who's claiming as a Muslim student association and the mainstream of the Muslims is Sunni, and you have somebody here that has very, very different beliefs, you're not going to expect if there's somebody who's a religious to come to a religious Sunni place that everything's going to be just wait, sunshine and stuff. I'm explanation. I wanted to speak about this. The MSA is a Muslim students association created by Sundays. Naturally, we're going to have a spouse only beliefs. Yeah. There should be no shame in that. The same way that she has students organization does not cater to Sunnis. Yeah. They're not going to come and play. They're even a shield. But they're not going to praise our mother. And we don't mind if they don't invite us. We're happy. Yeah, yeah. Exactly. The same way and I want them to understand this. The same way when someone holds a party on Christmas Day and invites me, you can't call that if a Christian does that. You can't call that microaggression because that's his holiday. Yeah. Right? You can't say, oh, you know the king called a Christian party, so you want to see us want me to party with him. I mean, it's nonsense, right? They look, you have been a C, I make my choice. Do I want to attend or not attend? This is based on my beliefs. If my belief contradicts what they do, that's not my problem, because that's his holiday. That's his celebration. Yeah. That's what they believe. That's the religion. I'm not going to claim microaggression. I'm going to say, no, I choose not to do this because my beliefs say that this is encouraging beliefs. And shit.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"muslim student association" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"Police arrested a suspect in the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque. The city's Muslim community lived in fear. Ahmad Assad is the president of the Islamic center of New Mexico, the mosque where asset says the murder victims and the man now charged in two of the killings all attended prayer. As it spoke with me before the arrest about the victims, Muhammad ahmadi, nayim Hussein, Muhammad Hussein and after Hussein. Young men and the community middle aged men, mister Ahmed has got a long-standing family here in Albuquerque and owners of a bakery in Mediterranean bakery that serves a bit of the afghani Pakistani communities when he was killed right behind the store back in November. The other three are basically young men that have diverse backgrounds in terms of their professions, 9 was a truck driver and had no family living here. I mean, these are all really wonderful young men that joined a very good reputation within their inner circles. Before the arrest of 51 year old Muhammad Saeed, Assad said many in the Muslim community of only a few thousand sheltered in their homes afraid they might be targeted. We know that businesses have closed and people have decided to close businesses or have decided temporarily move out of state. There are actual people that have moved out of the state while this investigation is pending. People have been very reluctant to attend the prayer services. There's a sense of just great fear. Lena a God hid inside her house for four days before the suspect was arrested. I reached the 23 year old vice president of the Muslim student association at the university of New Mexico just hours after the arrest as she mourned with her community at a vigil at the Islamic center. So today right now, I'm sitting at the mosque in Albuquerque, and this is the first time I have left my home since we started hearing about this. And me personally, I wear hijab, so I wear scarf. And so at the time before this suspect and more information came out, all what we knew was that Muslim men were being attacked, right? And so how did he get this information? No one knew, was he following these people. So for me, walking outside with the scarf, I am a walking symbol of Islam. It's very obvious that I'm a Muslim. I was very scared to leave my house. And then the information came out that it does appear that it was motivated by hate, but it appears that the man was Muslim and killing Shia Muslims because he was angry or at least reportedly angry that his daughter was marrying a Sheamus. What was that like to hear? You expect that learning that a suspect is found and has been detained, it would feel like a breath of relief. Yeah. But it kind of felt like another chain was placed on my heart because these people died for nothing. For tables to turn and for it to be in our own community, I felt so disappointed to hear that news. At the vigil right now, what are you all telling each other? How are you finding solace with your community today? The one thing that I realized is that regardless of who the perpetrator is, regardless of their motives, whatever it may be, and attack on one of us in this community is an attack on all of us. The fact that people are embraced in each other and reminding each other that they are loved and they are welcome in the community. We are a community. We are not communities. We are a community. We are a singular group, we come together as one. Yeah. That made me feel really welcome. I was born and raised here, but I feel like this is one of the first times where I've actually felt completely 100% accepted in this community. In the city of Albuquerque and the larger community you mean? Yeah. So in a really weird way, there's almost the silver lining of comfort and peace that has come out of this. And I see this every time someone tries to destroy a community or someone tries to destroy something. It almost ends up backfiring on them because it shows that no matter how hateful someone is, peace and love always overpowers that. You said you knew Muhammad, one of the men that was killed because of your activities at university. If you could tell me a little bit about him and about losing him in the way that you and others who knew him and loved him did. Muhammad was one of the most inspirational students at UNM. Very, very smart individual. Whatever he planned and helped execute, it was always successful. Such a senseless loss. Exactly. And so I've been talking to a lot of people and one of the main things I keep reiterating is let's not let the sacks of hate take away from the greatness of his life. What he started and the impact that he had on other people, we wanted to continue that. There's been thoughts about creating a scholarship in his name because he was very much about education. He was very much about bettering themselves. One of the victims, it was reported that actually he had fled sectarian violence as one of the reasons he came to the United States and then to hear about what is sectarian hate and Albuquerque, New Mexico, in a community that is so diverse, right? And this is a mosque where she Muslims and Sunni Muslims pray together. I just wonder what you're thinking. It's atrocious, in my opinion. Well, at the end of the day, we can't let that be the underlying principle here. The underlying principle is that people are going to do bad things regardless of whatever motive. Of course, they're going to come up with something, but whoever wants to do something bad is going to do something better. Unfortunately, and we can't protect against that no matter what we do, they will always be bad people out there. Does anybody know in the community the suspect? And how are they dealing with that? He's very well known in the community. I mean, he comes to the same Moscow that the victims went to, you know, it's crazy they think that for months this guy was praying next to other members of the community as if everything was normal. Wow. It shocks you, you know, that someone that you could see every day, someone that you see in prayer that you just assume
WNYC 93.9 FM
"muslim student association" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"Morning edition from NPR news. I'm a Martinez. And I'm Leila faldon for days before police arrested a suspect in the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque. The city's Muslim community lived in fear. Ahmed Assad is the president of the Islamic center of New Mexico, the mosque where asset says the murder victims and the man now charged in two of the killings all attended prayer. As it spoke with me before the arrest about the victims, Muhammad Ali Muhammad Hussain and afta husain. Very respected young men and the community middle aged men, mister ahmadi has got a long-standing family here in Albuquerque and owners of a bakery in Mediterranean bakery that serves a bit of the afghani Pakistani communities when he was killed right behind the store back in November. The other three are basically young men that have diverse backgrounds in terms of their professions, 9 was a truck driver and had no family living here. I mean, these are all really wonderful young men that enjoyed a very good reputation within their inner circles. Before the arrest of 51 year old Muhammad said, as it said, many in the Muslim community have only a few thousand sheltered in their homes afraid they might be targeted. We know that businesses have closed and people have decided to close businesses or have decided temporarily move on the state. There are actual people that have moved out of the state while this investigation is pending. People have been very reluctant to attend the prayer services. There's a sense of just great fear. Lena, I got hit inside her house for four days before the suspect was arrested. I reached the 23 year old vice president of the Muslim student association at the university of New Mexico just hours after the arrest. She'd emerge from her home to mourn them at a community vigil at the Islamic center. So today right now, I'm sitting at the mosque in Albuquerque, and this is the first time I have left my home since we started hearing about this. And me personally, I wear hijab, so I wear scarf. And so at the time before the suspect and more information came out, all what we knew was that Muslim men were being attacked, right? And so how did he get this information? No one knew, was he following these people. So for me, walking outside with the scarf, I am a walking symbol of Islam. It's very obvious that I'm a Muslim. I was very scared to leave my house. And then the information came out that it does appear that it was motivated by hate, but it appears that the man was Muslim and killing Shia Muslims because he was angry or at least reportedly angry that his daughter was marrying a Shia Muslim. What was that like to hear? You expect that learning that a suspect is found and has been detained. It would feel like a breath of relief. Yeah. But it kind of felt like another chain was placed on my heart because these people died for nothing. For tables to turn and for it to be in our own community, I felt so disappointed to hear that news. At the vigil right now, what are you all telling each other? How are you finding solace with your community today? The one thing that I realized is that regardless of who the perpetrator is, regardless of their motives, whatever it may be, and attack on one of us in this community is an attack on all of us. The fact that people are embracing each other and reminding each other that they are loved and they're welcome in the community. We are a community. We are not communities. We are a community. We are a singular group, we come together as one. Yeah. That made me feel really welcome. I was born and raised here, but I feel like this is one of the first times where I've actually felt completely 100% accepted in this community. In the city of Albuquerque, the larger community you mean? Yeah. So in a really weird way, there's almost this silver lining of comfort and peace that has come out of this. And I see this every time someone tries to destroy a community or someone tries to destroy something. It almost ends up backfiring on them because it shows that no matter how hateful someone is, peace and love always overpowers that. You said you knew Muhammad, one of the men that was killed because of your activities at university. If you could tell me a little bit about him and about losing him in the way that you and others who knew him and loved him did. Muhammad was one of the most inspirational students at UNM very, very smart individual. Whatever he planned and helped execute, it was always successful. Such a senseless loss. Exactly. And so I've been talking to a lot of people and one of the main things I keep reiterating is let's not let the sacks of hate take away from the greatness of his life. What he started and the impact that he had on other people, we wanted to continue that. There's been thoughts about creating a scholarship in his name because he was very much about education. He was very much about bettering themselves. One of the victims, it was reported that actually he had fled sectarian violence as one of the reasons he came to the United States and then to hear about what is sectarian hate and Albuquerque, New Mexico, in a community that is so diverse, right? And this is a mosque where she Muslims and Sunni Muslims pray together. I just wonder what you're thinking. It's atrocious in my opinion. But at the end of the day, we can't let that be the underlying principle here. The underlying principle is that people are going to do bad things regardless of whatever motive. Of course, they're going to come up with something, but whoever wants to do something bad is going to do something better, unfortunately. And we can't protect against that no matter what we do, they will always be bad people out there. Does anybody know in the community the suspect? And how are they dealing with that? He's very well known in the community. I mean, he comes to the same Moscow that the victims went to, you know, it's crazy this big for months, this guy was praying next to other members of the community as if everything was normal. Wow. It shocks you, you know, that someone that you could see every day, someone that you see in prayer that you just assume is
People of the Pod
"muslim student association" Discussed on People of the Pod
"About the Jews. And that is what worries me today. Most of us in this room tonight will not go home to neighborhoods in Williamsburg or Jersey City where the rise in anti semitism creates a clear and present danger for the population. But most of you in this room have children or grandchildren at universities where the only acceptable bigotry is the anti semitism of our day, which is known as anti Zionism. Pam, you're rebuttal. First of all, thank you so much for saying you hope that I'm going to win. So I'm really happy about that. And me too, I think it's really important for us to kind of have this long perspective. I'm historian. And so I think that history informs our understanding of the present. We are definitely in a moment where anti semitism, it's been all over this conference. It is roiling our community. Yet, I think what we fail to understand is to what extent it is made relatively minimal impacts in the wider world. So you look at what's happening on the college campus. I spent a lot of time on college campus. This has spent a lot of time talking to college presidents, to university faculty, to people who are studying this issue. There are many, many terrible incidents on campus, no way that I'm not going to recognize that. However, over 90% of our 18 year olds would not be going to colleges and universities if they were under siege from anti semitism all the time because we as Jewish parents wouldn't be sending our children there. When they're in their stem classes, when they're in their business school classes, when they are engaged with their friends in most activities, they are not confronting anti semitism on a day to today basis. And everyone I talk to says on the campus, the jala directors, that's the case day by day. Yes, there are terrible incidents, no question about it. And when they happen, like Muhammad el Kurds toured this spring, noted anti semite was touring all around the major colleges, committed Jewish faculty committed Jewish studies faculty and committed students stand up and we go to our administrators and we tell them that they need to intervene. Sometimes they do on my campus they did. He did not speak on campus, but at other places they don't. So we need to be vigilant, but that doesn't mean that the rising anti semitism is ending our golden age. It's a little bit like cancel culture. What worries me about cancel culture aren't the instances of cancellation, right? People get canceled and then they recover their careers for one reason. It's the culture. It's the culture. That is, the fear that so many people have in different walks of life, that if they speak up, they are going to be canceled, which leads to a culture of silencing. And my sense is sure, the incidents that reach the headlines that get the attention of the Jewish press or the major press are relatively few and far between why? Because people are shutting up 63% of students on college campuses, according to heterodox academy, believe that their campuses are places where they can not speak freely. And I say this only anecdotally because data is hard to come by, but all of you who have children or grandchildren at colleges know that that goes doubly so when it comes to conversations about Israel, when it goes to talking about their Jewish pride, their Jewish identity, and their Jewish political affinities. And what's so frightening, this is what really frightens me, which is that incidents which would be 5 alarm fires when they involved different ethnicities or different minorities are treated as trivialities when they involve Jews except when a trustee gets involved or a philanthropic parent gets involved. And then it's sort of taken up. I'll give you one small example that I found so upsetting after the anti semitic attacks of May of 2021 during the war. All of a sudden, a few people got it in them to say, well, you know, we oppose anti semitism. But all of these statements were couched and we opposed transphobia, islamophobia, this phobia that phobia, anti semitism, and then 6 others. This is the same culture that says, no, Black Lives Matter, right? Let's focus on the hatred at hand. So notice the cultural double standard that when it comes to denouncing antisemitism, administrators, teachers, and the culture speaks Soto virtue. When it comes to other forms of bigotry, they are loud and insistent. And that's a telling difference. Okay, but I would argue back that and you're right. I mean, I've seen a lot of those statements, but I would argue back that especially in the wake of AJC and halal hosting university presidents to talk about anti semitism that that conversation is changing. I mean, I've seen signs of that conversation changing. So when we issued a statement condemning anti semitism on campus because we'd had an issue where we had a Jewish student and a Muslim student plan a joint pesa iftar event and the Muslim student association pulled out the one I felt really badly for was that Muslim student who had planned it. We issued a statement opposing anti semitism and we did not issue it under the rubric of all of these other things. So I think since May 2021, we are seeing the beginnings of a change. We are also seeing and I talked to a lot of faculty who were involved with this. We are demanding that the diversity equity and inclusion programs on our campuses that they introduce information about anti semitism and information about the Jewish people that they've been ignoring that you're absolutely right, but they are not going to continue to ignore it any longer. Okay. We are going to return to the question of anti semitism in a few minutes. At this time, I want to turn to some questions about the Jewish community as a whole. And I'm going to start with a question about demography. The 2020 pew survey of Jewish Americans showed a community with a steadily shrinking center. American jury is becoming simultaneously more orthodox and more unaffiliated. The once large conservative and reform movements are contracting. And among American Jews who have gotten married since 2010, 61% are intermarried. While the offspring of intermarriages have become increasingly likely to identify as Jewish and adulthood, still this group remains far less affiliated and identified as a whole than the offspring of endogamous marriages. Does the picture of American jury from the pew survey depict a community with its best days behind it? Start with Brett. What you have is a Jewish community. Let me put it this way. There are my memory serves. There are 8.6 million Americans today as best as we know because surveys of Jewish population are very imprecise and you never know which Jewish children grow up to choose to be Jewish adults. But as best as we know from the survey data, there are 8.6 million Americans today who had a Jewish parent. There are 4.3 million Americans who actively affiliate with a denomination, conservative orthodox or reform, and who participate in some meaningful way as Jews. So other than simply saying, oh, yes, you know, my mom was Jewish. My dad was Jewish, that there's some meaningful content in their Jewish life. That's 4.3 million. This is a country that in my lifetime has grown from 211 million people to 330 million people. So essentially, a third in the growth of demography, and yet the Jewish population has more or less remained stagnant somewhere between 5 and 7 million. The more dismaying aspect of it is, it seems to me, is that American jury is losing its vital center of affiliated and committed Jews who are somewhere in the middle between orthodoxy and indifference. And so what you're looking at now is a picture of American Jewish life in which American Jews are either entering the mainstream of American life and often disappearing into the mainstream or they're more identifiably orthodox, which is a wonderful thing, a wonderful thing with one exception. It is the orthodox community that increasingly bears the brunt of visible.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"muslim student association" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"From tell our listeners briefly what it's about Go back to where you came from and other helpful recommendations and how to become American Is about loving a country that doesn't always love you back And how the rest of us are both citizens and suspects us and them and how this country can turn on us on a dime But at the same time it's about how we can move forward as a multicultural country And I hope it is done with humor and it ends on earned hope not some hallmark a sugary confection but earned hope and the earned hope is by working through the challenges So that's the book Just one perspective my perspective but I tried to use my story as kind of a narrative spine to make a commentary about America and connect the dots for the rest of us The introduction of your book comes in hot You start by sharing some of the most offensive letters you've received from readers and viewers And then you write some snarky responses I'm wondering in real life how often do you respond to often racist hate mail or tweets That's a good question I get those emails every single day When I used to write in the comments section and articles my editors always used to turn off the comments section because they're like you don't want to read this And oftentimes it was benign stuff but it was because of who I am my name my ethnicity and my religion that all of a sudden I became a target I'm sure you get it all so you can sit here and talk about potato chips and somehow someone would make it like a racist That's how it is And you kind of take some dark humor with it and I think it depends on my mood and about once a week I'll respond to a go back to where you come from And if someone really spends a long three page emissive which they have then sometimes I have some fun with it and sometimes I share it with the public Because I feel like oftentimes we're asked to be like daffy duck get angry and upset but sometimes I want to be like Bugs Bunny you know If you really think about it right But as bunny's always chilling they're always after him but he always uses their traps against them and sometimes he dresses up as a girl and kisses them and then sometimes he just mocks them but he always gets the last laugh And I want to make sure I get the last laugh in the last word Yeah Bugs Bunny didn't work hard He worked smart There you go He was a smart bunny You know so much of your life changed on 9 11 And a big turning point in the book is that event and what it meant for you going forward I want to go back to that scene because it was very vivid for me as I read it Where were you when you found out about the attack 20 year old UC Berkeley senior undeclared in my pajamas woken up by my roommate in our apartment a mile away from UC Berkeley He knocks on the door and I'm sleeping He's like you gotta get up I'm like come on man It's freaking exhausted I stayed up all night playing NBA two K then ten minutes later I get another knock You really have to get up and see that something's happening So we're both in our pajamas blurry watching the tower on fire Maybe the pilot had a heart attack That's what happened He was trying to land the plane maybe a Laguardia something happened And then you saw the second plane go Once you saw the second plane that's when we realized something this was deliberate And right there and then you kind of do the minority prayer which all minorities know And the minority player goes something like this Please let it be a white guy And if you're white or self identifies white it's not because we want any harm to come to you going full circle with the beginning of this conversation We realize that when it's a white person all of whiteness is not convicted Well the white guy is like this lone wolf who was misunderstood you know Just a dude You know crazy dude did it You want to have white uncles and white aunties in your community having to like stand up like Uncle Sam with flags like waving in the air and saying I love America and let me prove my moderation and come to my churches and won't be investigation and surveillance and hearings right Like you won't be held you won't be interrogated or indicted and have to prove your loyalty or prove your whiteness But for the rest of us we're effed all of us collectively And then when they saw that on the scroll at the bottom suspected Osama bin Laden and Muslims that's when I remember I closed my eyes and I just realized things were going to get really bad And I was a member of this Muslim student association I was elected to the board And I joke that had Muslims known that 9 11 would happen these horrible conspiracy theories which we did not know because Muslims also died that day I would have joined the Indian student association and I would have learned how to do punga or whatever you do though Do not join the sick student association because that poor group got screwed First hate crime after 9 11 was a sick man in mason This shows you how stupid racism is 19 four and hijackers 15 from Saudi Arabia to from UAE one from Lebanon one from Egypt brought down the two towers killed 3000 people And so the first hate crime after America was in mesa Arizona where a white supremacist blamed a middle aged sick gas station owner balbir Singh for the violent acts of 19 foreign hijackers because he was brownskin had a beard and a turban and he was sick Bigots aren't nuanced This country lost its damn mine after 9 11 And so here I was a Muslim student association board member and I had Muslim women born and raised in America emailing me Should we go to school There are hate crimes We're afraid I had my first hate mail Just think about it I'm in California born and raised in the Bay Area to Pakistani immigrant parents and I am being blamed for the violent actions of 1940 hijackers And that's where it all began And I always tell people that was the baptism by fire That was the turning point the fork in the road That was the danger room simulation for the rest of my life and with the rest of my career For my generation You're listening to it's been a minute from NPR I'm Sam Sanders speaking with wajahat Ali We're talking about his new memoir It's called go back to where you came from You know you wrote about how much work you had to take on at Berkeley in the aftermath of 9 11 You and other students and the Muslim student association just took it upon yourself to do a lot of bridge building You hosted Friday prayers for the entire campus You held forums with all different kinds of speakers and groups And you said something that really stuck out to me about that experience and that year after 9 11 you said it was quote training ground an X-Men danger room simulation that would prepare you for the rest of your life Explain Yeah I mean you become overnight the Muslim firemen You become the Muslim walking Wikipedia You become the person if you're thrust in that spotlight where you have to be an expert on the drop of the dime on all things Muslim and Islam McGraw and Sharia are profit Muhammad Hakeem olajuwon Nan Hakeem not Hakeem three Hakeem everything Bollywood hummus Hamas like everything You know here I have this 20 year old undeclared student playing NBA two K next thing you know I'm giving speeches in front of 200 people And as I have the microphone and giving the speech I'm like why am I sitting here giving a speech What's happening And overnight you get thrust like our parents generation You get you know you get thrust into the moment right You have to meet the moment And you have to then play the stupid condemn Nathan game condemning violent accident by violent people you've never met And you've got to be perfect And if you're not perfect not only are you indicted by this nameless judge you're an executioner that 20 years after 9 11 still holds your loyalty aspect simply due to your ethnicity or religion it condemns this whole thing called Muslims and Islam Because after 9 11 the enemy became this thing called Islam It became a civilizational conflict between us and them I'm using the language of our elected leaders at that time The axis of evil And it wasn't just those who were Muslim and I'm glad you mentioned this earlier It was those who looked Muslim Sick Americans Indian Hindus Arab Christians right And so overnight you become an educator you become.
WABE 90.1 FM
"muslim student association" Discussed on WABE 90.1 FM
"You know you wrote about how much work you had to take on at Berkeley in the aftermath of 9 11 you and other students and the Muslim student association just took it upon yourself to do a lot of bridge building You hosted Friday prayers for the entire campus You held forums with all different kinds of speakers and groups And you said something that really stuck out to me about that experience and that year after 9 11 You said it was quote training ground An X-Men danger room simulation that would prepare you for the rest of your life Explain Yeah that's I mean you become overnight the Muslim firemen you become the Muslim walking Wikipedia You become the person if you're thrust in that spotlight where you have to be an expert on the drop of the dime on all things Muslim and Islam and grand Cherie are often Muhammad Hakeem olajuwon like not Hakeem not hame Everything Bollywood Hummus Hamas like everything You know here I have this 20 year old undeclared student playing NBA two K next thing you know I'm giving speeches in front of 200 people And as I have the microphone and given the speech I'm like why am I sitting here giving a speech What's happening And overnight you get thrust like our parents generation You get you know you get thrust into the moment right You have to meet the moment And you have to then play the stupid condemn Theon game condemning violent accident by violent people you've never met And you've got to be perfect And if you're not perfect not only are you indicted by this nameless judge or an executioner that 20 years after 9 11 still holds your loyalty aspect simply due to your ethnicity or religion it condemns this whole thing called Muslims and Islam Because after 9 11 the enemy became this thing called Islam It became a civilizational conflict between us and them I'm using the language of our elected leaders at that time right The axis of evil And it wasn't just those who were Muslim and I'm glad you mentioned this earlier It was those who looked to Muslim me Sick Americans Indian Hindus Arab Christians right And so overnight you become an educator you become a bridge builder you become a apologist a defender but I don't want to play the apology game right It's exhausting and it's like humiliating But at the same time the people who did indulge in that you have to realize dude our communities were under fire There was like mass surveillance like NYPD now that we know this right did mass surveillance everywhere insidiously in the moss on the street everywhere Students student groups grocery stores and then their list of looking at traits of radicalization which is hilarious is if a man has a beard if a woman has is wearing a hijab If they eat halal meat that's like you just described like a Brooklyn hipster It's ridiculous Like Jada pinket Smith because of her hair condition That she's wearing a hijab and suppose she goes into meat Congratulations You're gonna now see your SS suspect First they came for the Muslims last had nothing Then they came for Jada And I was like no She got entangled There you go Yeah So you said that your experience after 9 11 and organizing was a training ground But I wonder now 20 years later what did that training not prepare you for That training doesn't prepare you to invest in joy to think about your long-term health and the dreams that sometimes get deferred That training does not prepare you for the crushing realization that sometimes no matter how hard you work like we mentioned before you'll be dealing with the same demons 20 years later You know that the demons will simply evolve and mutate You know white rage never sleeps It'll always fight back The work is ongoing It never stops You can't just rest right And I think for many of us we're like oh if we just put in all this time and effort things will get better And they have in many regards But you always have to keep moving or else you stop you get lazy you get complacent and you die And in some cases literally Well you know what I felt reading about your experience doing all of that activism and organizing to be a good Muslim What you realize and what a lot of activists have said in the last few years is at some point you're tired and you can not do it all and you have to stop and take care of you You know it's like there will always be an issue to organize around There will always be a march to attend There will always be an in some inequity to fight to fix but also maybe you could just take a nap Like that's allowed And I will say you know I have covered activism and activists on and off throughout my time as a journalist This latest crop they believe in self care and I'm like good for you You should Life is long and hard You said and I am investing in that early like I almost died It's in the book And I realize you know oftentimes we measured success our generation Through martyrdom Our success was look how many arrows I took for you Look how I suffer Look how you bleed Look I'm dead And I said I don't want you dead I want you to live long And so what I really invest in in the last few years especially during trumpism every time I'm inviting these spaces I always tell people invest in joy you have to make the intention and almost like exercise you have to put in the discipline You have to say like I deserve to be happy And if I invest in joy and find joy it means that I'm happy my family's happy the.
WABE 90.1 FM
"muslim student association" Discussed on WABE 90.1 FM
"Tell our listeners briefly what it's about Go back to where you came from and other helpful recommendations and how to become American Is about loving a country that doesn't always love you back And how the rest of us are both citizens and suspects us and them and how this country can turn on us on a dime But at the same time it's about how we can move forward as a multicultural country And I hope it is done with humor and it ends on earned hope not some hallmark a sugary confection but earned hope and the earned hope is by working through the challenges So that's the book And it's just one perspective my perspective but I tried to use my story as kind of a narrative spine to make a commentary about America and connect the dots for the rest of us The introduction of your book comes in hot You start by sharing some of the most offensive letters you've received from readers and viewers and then you write some snarky responses I'm wondering in real life how often do you respond to often racist hate mail or tweets That's a good question I get those emails every single day When I used to write in the comments section and articles my editors always used to turn off the comments section because they're like you don't want to read this And oftentimes it was benign stuff but it was because of who I am my name my ethnicity and my religion that all of a sudden I became a target And I'm sure you get it also We could sit here and talk about potato chips and somehow someone would make it like a racist That's how it is And you kind of take some dark humor with it And I think it depends on my mood and about once a week I'll respond to a go back to where you come from And if someone like really spends a long three page missive which they have then sometimes I have some fun with it And sometimes I share it with the public Because I feel like oftentimes we're asked to be like daffy duck get angry and upset but sometimes I want to be like Bugs Bunny you know If you really think about it right Bugs Bunny's always chilling They're always after him but he always uses their traps against them and sometimes he dresses up as a girl and kisses them and then sometimes he just walks them but he always gets the last laugh And I want to make sure I get the last laugh in the last word Yeah Bugs Bunny didn't work hard He worked smart There you go He was a smart bunny You know so much of your life changed on 9 11 And a big turning point in the book is that event and what it meant for you going forward I want to go back to that scene because it was very vivid for me as I read it Where were you when you found out about the attack 20 year old UC Berkeley senior undeclared in my pajamas woken up by my roommate in our apartment a mile away from UC Berkeley He knocks on the door and I'm sleeping He's like you gotta get up I'm like come on man It's freaking exhausted I stayed up all night playing NBA two K then ten minutes later I get another knock You really have to get up and see that something's happening So we're both in our pajamas blurry watching the tower on fire Maybe the pilot had a heart attack That's what happened He was trying to land a plane maybe a Laguardia something happened and then you saw the second plane go Once you saw the second plane that's when we realized something this was deliberate And right there and then you kind of do the minority prayer which all minorities know And the minority player goes something like this Please let it be a white guy And if you're white or self identifies white it's not because we want any harm to come to you going full circle with the beginning of this conversation We realize that when it's a white person all of whiteness is not convicted Well the white guy is like this lone wolf who was misunderstood you know Just a dude You know crazy dude did it You want to have white uncles and white aunties in your community having to stand up like Uncle Sam with flags like waving in the air and saying I love America and let me prove my moderation and come to my churches and you won't be investigation and surveillance and hearings right Like you won't be held you won't be interrogated or indicted and have to prove your loyalty or prove your whiteness But for the rest of us we're effed all of us collectively And then when they saw that on the scroll at the bottom you know suspected Osama bin Laden in Muslims that's when I remember I closed my eyes and I just realized things were going to get really bad And I was a member of this Muslim student association I was elected to the board and I joke that had Muslims known that 9 11 would happen these horrible conspiracy theories which we did not know because Muslims also died that day I would have joined the Indian student association and I would have learned how to do punga or whatever you do though Do not join the sick student association because that poor group got screwed First hate crime after 9 11 was a sick man and this shows you how stupid racism is 19 foreign hijackers 15 from Saudi Arabia two from UAE one from Lebanon one from Egypt brought down the two towers killed 3000 people And so the first hate crime after America was in mesa Arizona where a white supremacist blamed a middle aged sick gas station owner balbir Singh for the violent acts of 19 foreign hijackers because he was brown skinned had a beard and a turban and he was sick Bigots aren't nuanced This country lost its damn mine after 9 11 And so here I was a Muslim student association board member and I had Muslim women born and raised in America emailing me Should we go to school Their hate crimes were afraid I had my first hate mail Just think about it I'm in California born and raised in the Bay Area to Pakistani immigrant parents and I am being blamed for the violent actions of 1940 hijackers And that's where it all began And I always tell people that was the baptism by fire That was the turning point the fork in the road That was the danger room simulation for the rest of my life and with the rest of my career For my generation Fear listening to it's been a minute from NPR I'm Sam Sanders speaking with wajahat Ali We're talking about his new memoir It's called go back to where you came from.
It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders
"muslim student association" Discussed on It's Been a Minute with Sam Sanders
"Do the writing. But you know, having insurance doesn't hurt. This is a thing. Everyone is like, oh, my parents did. My parents said, even if they're a little too enthusiastic about what they want for your life, big picture, they are concerned about the right things. There you go. Your security. They're trying the best they can. They're trying to love you the best way they know how. They just, you know, they're overzealous. You know how it is. And you know, another I'm a parent, I'm an older, you see things from their perspective. Parents instinct is protection. That's all it is. And for my parents generation, especially that immigrant generation, you have to realize they left with they came all by themselves. They were young kids, there was no community. They had the funny accent. They weren't seen as average that you had to put their head down, they could only do a few reliable, safe, secure jobs to send money back. And so once they made the Concorde American Dream, they wanted to hand that checklist down to the kids and said we don't want you to suffer how we suffered we learned the hard way, go get a stable degree in a stable job and keep your head down and be safe and marry someone who's ate on the hotness skill and get a Toyota or Honda that immigrant vehicle of choice. And there's a love there in a concern there. And the reason why so many of my parents generation, the kind of mocked or ridiculed or didn't invest in journalism or podcast host or writers is because we saw no models of success. So they're like, you just can't expect me to have faith. My faith has to be rooted in something tangible. Show me success. And then maybe I'll invest in this. And when I was growing up, we didn't have Hasan minhaj and riz Emma then Mindy Kaling. Flash forward to now, look at you on national public radio, talking about your book. I can't imagine an NPR 15 years ago. Letting the two of us get a whole hour. Seriously. I think 15 years ago, let's take it back, like, 2006. This would be wild. This would be wild. You know what would happen? This is what would happen. Like the whitest white NPR host probably would have been sick. And then they would have gone to the next two hosts who would have been in a car crash God forbid and healing. And then there was another white person who's never done a radio show. And they got like a panic attack. And then like, Sam, you got to do it. And then with me, like, 17 guests would have like bailed the last second. And we've heard about this war a lot. He has a book coming out. And then that's how we get an hour. There you go. There you go. Up next, how 9 11 changed was reality. And prepared him for the rest of his life. Stay with us. Been baller worked at a record label, but he thought his boss was giving young artists a raw deal. I was like, yo man, it's not like you can't still get rich and they can still eat. I'm talking everyone eat Wagyu. Oh, his boss was Dr. Dre. And he fired me. I was like, look, I'm gonna pivot and do something. All he did was change the game of high end, custom jewelry. Here how? On the limits from NPR. You know, so much of your life changed on 9 11. And a big turning point in the book is that event and what it meant for you going forward. I want to go back to that scene because it was very vivid for me as I read it. Where were you when you found out about the attack? 20 year old UC Berkeley senior undeclared in my pajamas woken up by my roommate in our apartment a mile away from UC Berkeley. He knocks on the door and I'm sleeping. He's like, you gotta get up. I'm like, come on, man. It's freaking exhausted, I stayed up all night playing NBA two K then ten minutes later I get another knock. You really have to get up and see that something's happening. So we're both in our pajamas, blurry, watching the tower on fire. Maybe the pilot had heart attack. That's what happened. He was trying to land the plane maybe, a Laguardia, something happened, and then you saw the second plane go. Once you saw the second plane, that's when we realized something this was deliberate. And right there and then you kind of do the minority prayer, which all minorities know. And the minority player goes something like this. Please let it be a white guy. And if you're white or self identifies white, it's not because we want any harm to come to you, going full circle with the beginning of this conversation. We realize that when it's a white person, all of whiteness is not convicted. Well, the white guy is like, this lone wolf, who was misunderstood, you know? Just a dude. You know, crazy dude did it. You want to have white uncles and white aunties in your community having to stand up like Uncle Sam with flags like waving in the air and saying, I love America and let me prove my moderation and come to my churches. And you won't be investigation and surveillance and hearings, right? Like you won't be held, you won't be interrogated or indicted and have to prove your loyalty or prove your whiteness. But for the rest of us, we're effed, all of us collectively. And then when they saw that on the scroll at the bottom, suspected Osama bin Laden in Muslims, that's when I remember I closed my eyes and I just realized things were going to get really bad. And I was a member of this Muslim student association. I was elected to the board. And I joke that had Muslims known that 9 11 would happen, these horrible conspiracy theories, which we did not know, because Muslims also died that day. I would have joined the Indian student association. I would have learned how to do punga, whatever you do, though. Do not join the sick student association because that poor group got screwed. First hate crime after 9 11 was a sick man in this shows you how stupid racism is. 19 foreign hijackers 15 from Saudi Arabia to from UAE one from Lebanon, one from Egypt, brought down the two towers, killed 3000 people. And so the first hate crime after America was in messer Arizona where a white supremacist blamed a middle aged sick gas station owner balbir Singh for the violent acts of 19 foreign hijackers because he was brown skinned had a beard and a turban and he was sick. Bigots aren't nuanced. This country lost its damn mine after 9 11. And so here I was a Muslim student association board member and I had Muslim women born and raised in America emailing me. Should we go to school? There are hate crimes. We're afraid. I had my first hate mail. Just think about it. I'm in California, born and raised in the Bay Area to Pakistani immigrant parents, and I am being blamed for the violent actions of 1940 hijackers. And that's where it all began. And I always tell people, that was the baptism by fire. That was the turning point, the fork in the road. That was the danger room simulation for the rest of my life and with the rest of my career. For my generation. Yeah. You know, you wrote about how much work you had to take on at Berkeley in the aftermath of 9 11. You and other students and the Muslim student association just took it upon yourself to do a lot of bridge building. You hosted Friday prayers for the entire campus. You held forums with all different kinds of speakers and groups. And you said something that really stuck out to me about that experience and that year after 9 11. You said it was quote training ground. An X-Men danger room simulation that would prepare you for the rest of your life. Explain. Yeah, I mean, you become overnight the Muslim firemen. You become the Muslim walking Wikipedia. You become the person if you're thrust in that spotlight, where you have to be an expert on the drop of the dime on all things Muslim and Islam and.
KQED Radio
"muslim student association" Discussed on KQED Radio
"And the morning of 9 11. When I got up, I was that my partner's house and she said, You have to see this thing and I it was on her computer. And we didn't have a TV. We didn't watch TV news. We saw it all online. And there were these videos that kept playing over and over. I think we all saw them and because we were on the West Coast. Pretty much everything had already gone down. By the time we were waking up, and it was so surreal. It was very much like something I had studied in grad school when I was learning about Uh, you know, his reading Jean Baudrillard about the society of the spectacle And you know, um, what it means to have a simulated experience of politics that is totally mediated by By electronic forms of communication. And there we were looking at the Internet and seeing this unbelievable thing and I because I'm a giant nerd. One of the main things I remember after that is just searching for information online about What was going to happen next, and I felt so helpless. And, um, Slava Jacques was writing for, um, the village voice at that time, and he wrote this article about how there was this gap in meaning, and none of us knew what any of this meant. And so that was what I feel like. My next several weeks were about was trying to find that meaning and and I ultimately did you know, I Became much more political. After that. That's interesting, which I had about you. Where were you September 10th and had life change for you. September 10th. I was a 20 year old undeclared major at UC Berkeley, probably trying to figure out what to do with the rest of my life going to the RSF trying to work on my three pointer, drinking chai and playing Dreamcast NBA two K with a bunch of other dorks and then on September 11th because I probably stayed up way too late. Playing NBA two K dream passed. I was in my pajamas in my apartment. When my roommate as I'm knocked on the door and said, You've got to see this and I'm like, Yo, it's like six a.m. Man. Leave me alone. And then he knocked on the door again. You'll really have to wake up and see this. So here we were. Two Children of Pakistani immigrants standing in our you know our living room of our apartment, and I saw one of the towers burning and like most people, I'm like I You know, you were just sitting there trying to figure out what happened. You thought, Okay. Maybe the pilot uh there was some bad coordinates. Oh, my God. You know, maybe they're trying to land at LaGuardia and something happened and then when the second plane hit the second tower Immediately. I think most of us who were watching realized. Oh, God, This is coordinated and then on the scroll at the bottom once they started writing, you know Osama bin Laden or Al Qaeda could be involved. I did. I called the minority prayer and the minority prayers. What many people of color The prayer that many people of color do when there is a terror attack is like, please let it be a white person. And the reason for that is not because we dislike white people hate white people want like anything bad to happen by people is because we kind of realized and students of American history. Whenever there's like a person of color, does it? It's not just the person the individual who is indicted. It's the entire community that gets hazed. And the interesting thing was. I remember sitting there in my pajamas. And I closed my eyes and I could see the next 10 years very clearly. And what I saw was hazing. I saw blood lust. I saw war I saw panic. And as the kids say, FML, Alexis, because I was, uh, a student leader of the Muslim student association at that time, and I, you know, people say all Muslims knew what was going to happen. The conspiracy theory. I'm like. No, no, no, no. If God forbid. We knew what was going to happen, I would have joined the Indian Student Association and learn how to do Ponga Ra. But I remember the next few days so clearly because immediately And you mentioned this. You know, I heard someone say this in a sound club. Even though we were in Berkeley, the mushroom cloud of of of the damage spread. And immediately I got hate mail because my roommate decided to put me as the media contact for the NSA, the Muslim Student Association and so all of a sudden I had to become, and we had to become anyone who was in the space had to become like the cultural ambassador and defender. This thing called Islam and we started getting flooded with phone calls from concern. His hobby students. What should we come to school today? And so that kind of set off? What did you tell him? I mean, we didn't know, man like, Look, I'm a 20 year old undeclared student and all of a sudden now have to be an accidental activist. The defender of this thing called Islam, the chancellor of the university called us in one of the meeting with the five of us of the Muslim student associations, we went meant the chancellor. The chancellor said. Listen, what can we do to protect you? But at the same time they ask. Are you guys planning to do something like in the sense cause some ruckus and we're like, No, no, no, We just want to figure out how to create a safe environment. And the first person I remember this when I went out to Sproul Hall, it was like, uh, just a public You could just feel it like there was a the energy got sucked out of you See, Brickley. It was like a mass funeral. People are confusing in a haze. And then we went to Sproul Hall. People start coming out of sprawl Hall. You know, people started like just organizing. And I remember the first person that reach out to us when we had a tent out, was a member of the Japanese American community from Francisco and she said, We have been through this in World War two We know what's about to happen if you need help reach out to me. And that was a baptism by fire where the rest of us had a political consciousness like an alien grew up, and there was always a fork in the timeline. From that moment on pre 9 11. In the post number. Emily Bazelon did the actual legal regime around civil liberties change immediately or did that take a little while sort of round into place? You know, it changed pretty quickly. I'm not sure how much we were aware of it, but I think the FBI really changed this mission to being One about surveillance and intelligence gathering. And I think you know one of the reason that, um well, God felt all that So acutely, was this immediate sense that there was a threat that it was domestic, Um, that you know, Muslims might have helped or might be helping with something else. Just a lot of in Kuwait Fear And I remember my husband really early on saying this is gonna be bad, like the implications of this are bad, and I said, Why do you think that? And he said, Because when America with all its power Get scared When you combine the fear and the power of the United States. It's always bad like that is just an alarming Set of circumstances because we had so much military strength that we had all this police power that you know, our our freedoms started really quickly to be curtailed and we started viewing other people with suspicion, and it's very easy for that to start to spin out of control. Yeah, we're talking about September 10th 2000 and one life before and after 9 11 with the Jihad Ali, a playwright, columnist at the Daily Beast and senior fellow.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"muslim student association" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"These unprecedented times to challenge the good faith of the police department. Think is inappropriate. We're all trying to do the best for New York City that was Cardoza in 2000 and two trying to roll back hand shoe. NYPD leadership was also sounding the alarm. The top police official claim that a whopping 80% of mosques were home to extremists. And then NYPD. Commissioner Ray Kelly argued at the time that hand shoe was outdated. Given the new threat. It doesn't make sense in this day and age to have restrictions that were put in place in 1985 for real or imagined violations that happened in the late 19 sixties. A judge was convinced in 2003 hand. She was scaled back. So the NYPD could investigate a new group in its crosshairs. Muslims even if there was no indication of wrongdoing. Muslim student associations and halal restaurants in the tri state area went under surveillance. Undercover cops were in mosques listening to what people were saying about violence in the Middle East. When the Associated Press revealed all of this in 2011, civil rights activists sued again. And in 2017, they want a settlement Underhand shoe that once again put restrictions on the N Y p D. I was the first time since 9 11 that any intelligence agency or law enforcement agency. Had seen its power to spot aren't Muslims and Muslim communities restricted in any way, shape or form. Ramzi Kassem is a law professor at CUNY and director of the Clear clinic, which represented Muslims. SURVEILLED by the N Y P. D. Under the new version of hand Shoe, the city appointed a civilian representative who monitors the use of undercover officers and informants who are investigating religious and political activity. He collects data on the number of such investigations and how long they're going on, so they're not just fishing expeditions. And he can blow the whistle to a judge of hand. She was violated so three years later, has the problem been solved basically, and the answer is no. The three public reports so far issued by the civilian representative Stephen Robinson, showed that fewer investigations of First Amendment related activity have been initiated and those that have been or ending faster. But the reports are not rich with details and given the racial justice protests in the summer of 2020 Qassam wonders who the NYPD is now investigating. There are plenty of indications that there remains a lot of work to be done. Both with respect to the continuing over policing of Muslims by the NYPD Is Intelligence Bureau as well as you know, with respect to what they're doing regarding You know, black activists, Muslim and non costume wants to read the next report that will cover the period last summer when the NYPD sometimes violently suppressed and aggressively interrogated. Black lives matter. Protesters. Qasem has spoken to those interrogated by the FBI and NYPD. The questions they were asked questions about, you know. Well, okay. Who's in your organizing circle? How do you all communicate? What messaging apps do you use? Where do you meet? Where do you get money? His concerns about whether those interactions complied with the hand shoe guidelines and whether the cops are now seeking to disrupt the black lives matter movement just as they disrupted Muslim organizations in the aftermath of 9 11. And just as they attempted to disrupt the Black Panthers so many years ago. We're just seeing the tools that were kind of like refined and redefined and honed. Post 9 11 being brought to bear more fully on black organisers. Black lives matter. Organizers In ways that you know we're all too predictable. Constant wants to know whether the NYPD is keeping files on the online activity of black lives matter Protesters just as it once collected names from the websites of Muslim student groups. NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller told W. N Y C that whether it's investigating Al Qaeda or neo Nazis or black lives matter, activists allegedly firebombing in NYPD van the police abide by the hand shoe guidelines. Part of the discussion is people want these guidelines to apply double or triple to the people they disagree with, and not at all to the people. They agree with it. We don't take that position. The guidelines are the guidelines. Miller doesn't deny Muslim fears after 9 11, he says there was a level of paranoia where Muslims felt spied upon. But he says as part of the New Hampshire agreement, the NYPD did not admit wrongdoing after 9 11 because the NYPD did not commit wrongdoing. Now the hand shoes civilian representative, sits in on classified meetings about investigations and can read all records and has found police are totally compliant. We've kind of seen a turning of the corner from Rumors and suspicions to more transparency. Um more independent vetting of our programs and how they work by places outside the N Y p. D. And I think we're in a much better place. The next hand shoe report might shed light on that contention with possible insight into whether the police followed the rules during the Black lives matter. Protests This examination of police operations. This legal protection of civil liberties is only possible because of a black Panthers fight 50 years ago. Matt Katz w N. Y C news Next hour. We hear the story of a Muslim charity in Brooklyn that suit after it was infiltrated by the NYPD. It's W when my see there's more all things considered right after the top of five o'clock hour and be sure to stick around tonight. The investigative journalism series reveals starts our evening line up at eight o'clock tonight by exploring how we learn to live with fire as climate change continues to make wildfires worse..
WNYC 93.9 FM
"muslim student association" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"That happened in the late 19 sixties. A judge was convinced in 2003 hand. She was scaled back. So the NYPD could investigate a new group in its crosshairs Muslims even if there was no indication of wrongdoing. Muslim student associations and halal restaurants in the tri state area went under surveillance. Undercover cops were in mosques listening to what people were saying about violence in the Middle East. When the Associated Press revealed all of this in 2011, civil rights activists sued again. And in 2017, they want a settlement Underhand shoe that once again put restrictions on the N y p D. It was the first time since 9 11 that any intelligence agency or law enforcement agency. Had seen its power to spy on Muslims and Muslim communities restricted in any way, shape or form. Ramzi Kassem is a law professor at CUNY and director of the Clear clinic, which represented Muslims. Surveilled by the N y p D. Under the new version of hand Shoe, the city appointed a civilian representative who monitors the use of undercover officers and informants. Who are investigating religious and political activity. He collects data on the number of such investigations and how long they're going on, so they're not just fishing expeditions, and he can blow the whistle to a judge of hand. She was violated. So three years later. Has the problem been solved basically, and the answer is no. The three public reports so far issued by the civilian representative Stephen Robinson, showed that fewer investigations of First Amendment related activity have been initiated and those that have been or ending faster. But the reports are not rich with details and given the racial justice protests in the summer of 2020 Qassam wonders who the NYPD is now investigating. There are plenty of indications that there remains a lot of work to be done. Both with respect to the continuing over policing of Muslims by the NYPD Is Intelligence Bureau as well as you know, with respect to what they're doing regarding You know, black activists, Muslim and non Qasem wants to read the next report that will cover the period last summer when the NYPD sometimes violently suppressed and aggressively interrogated. Black lives matter. Protesters. Custom has spoken to those interrogated by the FBI and NYPD questions they were asked questions about, you know. Well, okay. Who's in your organizing circle? How do you all communicate? What messaging apps do you use? Where do you meet? Where do you get money? His concerns about whether those interactions complied with the hand shoe guidelines and whether the cops are now seeking to disrupt the Black lives matter movement. Just as they disrupted Muslim organizations in the aftermath of 9 11 and just as they attempted to disrupt the Black Panthers so many years ago. We're just seeing the tools that were kind of like refined and redefined and honed. Post 9 11 being brought to bear more fully on black organisers. Black lives matter. Organizers In ways that you know we're all too predictable. Carson wants to know whether the NYPD is keeping files on the online activity of black lives matter Protesters just as it once collected names from the websites of Muslim student groups. NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller told W. N Y C that whether it's investigating Al Qaeda or neo Nazis or black lives matter, activists allegedly firebombing in NYPD van the police abide by the hand shoe guidelines. Part of the discussion is people want these guidelines to apply double or triple to the people they disagree with, and not at all to the people. They agree with it. We don't take that position. The guidelines are the guidelines. Miller doesn't deny Muslim fears after 9 11, he says there was a level of paranoia where Muslims felt spied upon. But he says as part of the New Hampshire agreement, the NYPD did not admit wrongdoing after 9 11 because the NYPD did not commit wrongdoing. Now the hand shoes civilian representative, sits in on classified meetings about investigations and can read all records and has found police are totally compliant. We've kind of seen a turning of the corner from Rumors and suspicions to more transparency. Um more independent vetting of our programs and how they work by places outside the NYPD. And I think we're in a much better place. The next hand shoe report might shed light on that contention with possible insight into whether the police followed the rules during the Black lives matter protests this examination of police operations this legal protection of civil liberties. Is only possible because of a black Panthers fight 50 years ago. Matt Katz w N. Y. C news next hour we hear the story of a Muslim charity in Brooklyn that sued after it was infiltrated by the NYPD. W N. Y. C is supported by Geico offering motorcycle and RV insurance. More information on motorcycle and RV insurance is available at 1 809 47 Auto, This is W. N. Y c. 93.9 FM and AM a 20. NPR News and the New York conversation. Live from NPR news in Washington. I'm Dave Mattingly. President Biden will be in New York and New Jersey this afternoon to get a look at the damage.
WNYC 93.9 FM
"muslim student association" Discussed on WNYC 93.9 FM
"Times to challenge the good faith of the police department. Think is inappropriate. We're all trying to do the best for New York City that was Cardoza in 2000 and two trying to roll back hand shoe. NYPD leadership was also sounding the alarm. A top police official claim that a whopping 80% of mosques were home to extremists. And then NYPD. Commissioner Ray Kelly argued at the time that hand shoe was outdated. Given the new threat. It doesn't make sense in this day and age to have restrictions that were put in place in 1985 for real or imagined violations that happened in the late 19 sixties. A judge was convinced in 2003 hand. She was scaled back. So the NYPD could investigate a new group in its crosshairs. Muslims even if there was no indication of wrongdoing. Muslim student associations and halal restaurants in the tri state area went under surveillance. Undercover cops were in mosques listening to what people were saying about violence in the Middle East. When the Associated Press revealed all of this in 2011, civil rights activists sued again. And in 2017, they want a settlement Underhand shoe that once again put restrictions on the N Y p D. I was the first time since 9 11 that any intelligence agency or law enforcement agency. Had seen its power to spy on Muslims and Muslim communities restricted in any way, shape or form. Ramzi Kassem is a law professor at CUNY and director of the Clear clinic, which represented Muslims. SURVEILLED by the N Y p. D. Under the new version of hand Shoe, the city appointed a civilian representative who monitors the use of undercover officers and informants who are investigating religious and political activity. He collects data on the number of such investigations and how long they're going on, so they're not just fishing expeditions, and he can blow the whistle to a judge of hand. She was violated. So three years later. Has the problem been solved basically, and the answer is no. The three public reports so far issued by the civilian representative Stephen Robinson, showed that fewer investigations of First Amendment related activity have been initiated and those that have been or ending faster. But the reports are not rich with details and given the racial justice protests in the summer of 2020 Qassam wonders who the NYPD is now investigating. There are plenty of indications that there remains a lot of work. The Both with respect to the continuing over policing of Muslims by the NYPD Is Intelligence Bureau as well as you know, with respect to what they're doing regarding You know, black activists, Muslim and non Qasem wants to read the next report that will cover the period last summer when the NYPD sometimes violently suppressed and aggressively interrogated. Black lives matter. Protesters. Custom has spoken to those interrogated by the FBI and NYPD. The questions they were asked questions about, you know. Well, okay, who's in your organizing circle? How do you all communicate? What messaging apps do you use? Where do you meet? Where do you get money? His concerns about whether those interactions complied with the hand shoe guidelines and whether the cops are now seeking to disrupt the black lives matter movement just as they disrupted Muslim organizations in the aftermath of 9 11. And just as they attempted to disrupt the Black Panthers so many years ago. We're just seeing the tools that were kind of like refined and redefined and honed. Post 9 11 being brought to bear more fully on black organisers. Black lives matter. Organizers In ways that you know we're all too predictable. Qasem wants to know whether the NYPD is keeping files on the online activity of black lives matter protesters just as it once collected names from the websites of Muslim student groups. NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller told W. N Y C that whether it's investigating Al Qaeda or neo Nazis or black lives matter, activists allegedly firebombing in NYPD van the police abide by the hand shoe guidelines. Part of the discussion is people want these guidelines to apply double or triple to the people they disagree with and not at all to the people. They agree with it. We don't take that position. The guidelines are the guidelines. Miller doesn't deny Muslim fears after 9 11, he says there was a level of paranoia where Muslims felt spied upon. But he says as part of the New Hampshire agreement, the NYPD did not admit wrongdoing after 9 11 because the NYPD did not commit wrongdoing. Now they hand shoe civilian representative sits in on classified meetings about investigations and can read all records and has found police are totally compliance. We've kind of seen a turning of the corner from Rumors and suspicions to more transparency. Um more independent vetting of our programs and how they work by places outside the N Y p. D. And I think we're in a much better place. The next hand shoe report might shed light on that contention with possible insight into whether the police followed the rules during the Black lives matter protests this examination of police operations this legal protection of civil liberties. Is only possible because of a black Panthers fight 50 years ago. Matt Katz w N. Y..
Russia Rising
"muslim student association" Discussed on Russia Rising
"To various religious and community groups in ontario when she was invited by a muslim student association to speak at mcmaster. The title of the talk was the genocide of wieger muslims issue videos semi in the foot person's life experiences produce says more than one hundred people attended including several individuals who appeared to be of chinese. Ethnic origin does said one of those students who identified himself as chinese recorded a video of her presentation when it was over. She took questions from the audience and asked what the students thought of her speech. The chinese student said she had no right to speak at mcmaster called her. A traitor yelled fu and stormed out of the auditory video. The exchange was recorded by another student in a separate outburst during the presentation. She says a different student also shouted in mandarin that she was garbage. Then he i stay okay. He's chinese at slay. His saying a night ignored him. I continued my speech. I didn't stop upset. But i continued my speech. I come back home. Come home and i didn't do anything. The next day they published they statement a statement posted online. The following day signed by. Mcmasters chinese students and scholars association condemned what it described as her dishes absurd anti chinese presentation. The statement also said. The group had informed the chinese of the situation. And that's not the only time. The consulate is mentioned in regards to the presentation screen shots of an online we chat group which were shared with global news. Show a conversation between several people in mandarin discussing. And condemning producers talk members of the chat group claim to be in contact with the chinese consulate. They were encouraged to attend and to disrupt her presentation. Which appears is exactly what they did. They were also told to record video of the talk which they also did and it appears that video was then uploaded and shared with the same. We chat group in one of the screen shots. Chat group called islam an invasion and they also discussed produces son at the beginning of her presentation. She mentioned her son was a first year student at mcmaster. Will someone in the we chat group. Said they should find out who he is. He said okay. her son is going to find out every information about her son. Who was her son was amy. I'm getting busy Biggest why they look for my son and makes me sick both. The chinese consulate and the chinese students and scholars association denied having any contact about producers presentation. But mcmasters student. Union government suspended the chinese student groups funding and status for one year. They cited concerns. That members had reported campus activity to the chinese government in a statement appealing. That decision a lawyer for the chinese students and scholars association said the group did not contact the consulate despite what its earlier statement claimed. The club blamed a former mcmaster student. Whom said contacted the consulate about the event without consulting the group's members. Mcmasters student. Union government rejected that argument and upheld. The suspension stories of harassment against those who speak out against the chinese communist. Party aren't uncommon. Though rarely are they accompanied by written evidence of possible coordination with chinese officials. The extent to which chinese diplomats are allegedly involved in surveillance and intimidation on canadian. Soil is unclear and it's also a matter of intense debate. We are allowing them to run around this country and try to dictate how canadians live their lives. That's jonathan man. Thorpe is a veteran foreign correspondent and author who has written extensively about what he calls beijing's covert campaign of influence and intimidation in canada. In canada of they've they've used agents of influence in the In academia and in government to gain access to canadian technology They've they've used it to gain access to canadian resources and they've also used it to be able to control as far as they possibly. Can the one point five million people on canadians of ethnic chinese heritage. And this i think is really one of the most alarming and disgusting situations mantorp notes. There are about as many chinese diplomat's in canada as there are from the united states. The us is by far our largest trading partner responsible for about three quarters of canadian exports while china is a distant second at around five percent. There is no knee so chinese communist policy to have the number of diplomats Does here unless many of them are what is known as to hatchets that they are in fact a espionage agents and we've seen a lot of their activities amongst chinese students in canadian colleges and universities the pressure constant pressure and observation and intimidation of chinese students. Here tomato in colleges and universities is a horrific story all of its own and and needs to be means to be confronted. though the we need to tell chinese. Diplomat's that they they do not do this sort of stuff here. Look in my view. Baked good ideas expel a few on the way more than they.
The Current
"muslim student association" Discussed on The Current
"Would have wanted us. To be proud of our identities she would have wanted us to unite together to stand for what is right. She would have wanted us to be kind to one another. That's all i ask. Take pride in your zhob. Andrew religion be humble and be kind as family friend. Yes maine con-. Speaking at a vigil. Last night in london ontario for the family medina salomon her husband solomon off saw his mother. Talaat and the couple's fifteen year old daughter yom were killed in what police called targeted crime motivated by hate political leaders yesterday called it a terrorist attack all four run down by the driver of a pickup truck while out for an evening walk their nine year. Old son was also hit and is in hospital in serious condition all of this loss because they were muslim. According to london police a reach a son. Sorry is a fourth year student at western university in london and lives near where the attack happened. She was at the vigil last night. Then joins me now reached good morning. Good morning how are you doing today. I will definitely say it's typical. I think this entire week will be difficult. I think a lot of things are going to change. Hopefully after what took place I don't think anything about supposed to be easy for. I don't like anybody at this plant. Yeah i can imagine What was the vigil last night. Like for you. The crowds were huge. And there was. We heard a little bit of of what Mcconnell saying what was it like for you honestly. I was right next to the entire time. 'cause i was on standby to go up representing the western muslim students association We ended up having to cut that out just because of all the policies and let showed up so we wanted to give them enough time to speak. So i was watching. I guess from. I guess the point of view the speakers i noticed so many people show up and it really was heartwarming because we had the sikh community come out and they were distributing water bottles to everybody ready So it was nice to see everyone together. I think in a moment of like Where everyone's worried and feels unsafe. Police have called this a targeted crime motivated by hate when you think this family being targeted simply because they were muslim i mean how what goes through your mind how do you how do you try to to understand that. Well i guess it's really difficult to understand in the sense that like when i go outside i were my job. Great so i like i while i understand is a target on my back. You don't feel the gravity understand the gravity of that until you find out somebody that you knew passed away because of that. You know that they were that. Their lives were taken solely based on the fact that they were muslim. So it's definitely uneasy in the sense where i don't know why people are staring at me. I don't know if it's because for example. They might like what i'm wearing or whether they are planning on doing. Something to mir eight of not being able to differentiate them makes me very uneasy especially now thinking going to public I think just touching on the the area where this happened. I go there often. It's just like a little bit farther from where this happened is where i do. My groceries walk in clinic rate. I go there like twice a week. So i've been there too like Photography for sunsets and things like that so to think that could have been me. Just because like i walk in the area and it's absolutely terrifying. If you think about it. Is that how it feels as as a woman who wears job that you have a target on your back. Yeah i mean definitely like there times where things happen and then i don't want to jump to conclusions but i'm not sure why they happen retrofits because i'm a woman because i'm a muslim woman rate like i don't wanna like i try to the best in people but definitely i will say that i do know that there are various awful big and you know there people who who would want to see me leave this country so it's it's not entirely surprising to me either at this point I remember on the same street on hyde park in sarnia just wanted to section. After i had gone. I think two months ago to do some of fees by the railroad because he's a beautiful sunset. Happens there every evening on the way. back on sergeant hyper. I had some of their Beer bottle at me out of there. Car window It again. it was one of those things where it's like. I'm not sure whether it's because. I am muslim because just walking on side of the road. I wasn't sure what it is but definitely get there are people who Just look at what. I'm wearing a fabric piece of fabric on my head and what i believe in. I think that's enough to The move my existence from the world. That's awful and i'm sorry for that. And i know that this is a familiar sentiment as well within the community. Wanna bring a couple more women into our conversation. Washington wasi rachmat is a community activist in edmonton aziza. Kanji is illegal academic who studies systemic islamaphobia in toronto. Good morning to you. Both watch as a woman who wears a job. And i know you've lived in a couple of different cities in this country in montreal end in edmonton. What's your experience. Been like Yet thinking that they You know i. I lived for nine years in montreal and And i can say that Is different but you definitely feel Like like what. I said get it. Or you know people look differently And and being harassed on the streets any i was. I didn't want to see all of last week's show election You know. I was locking down people not to go back to and from or take off my job or even just from john to tell me why are you wearing. It was constant it was relentless that i out of montreal at time thinking that outlet It will be better in atlantan for my Didn't more tennis you that again. 'cause i actually against me on the while walking.
The Current
"muslim student association" Discussed on The Current
"A cbc podcast. My sister would not have wanted us to live in fear with wearing hijabs she wouldn't. She would have wanted us. To be proud of our identities she would have wanted us to unite together to stand for what is right. She would have wanted us to be kind to one another. That's all i ask. Take pride in your zhob. Andrew religion be humble and be kind as family friend. Yes maine con-. Speaking at a vigil. Last night in london ontario for the family medina salomon her husband solomon off saw his mother. Talaat and the couple's fifteen year old daughter yom were killed in what police called targeted crime motivated by hate political leaders yesterday called it a terrorist attack all four run down by the driver of a pickup truck while out for an evening walk their nine year. Old son was also hit and is in hospital in serious condition all of this loss because they were muslim. According to london police a reach a son. Sorry is a fourth year student at western university in london and lives near where the attack happened. She was at the vigil last night. Then joins me now reached good morning. Good morning how are you doing today. I will definitely say it's typical. I think this entire week will be difficult. I think a lot of things are going to change. Hopefully after what took place I don't think anything about supposed to be easy for. I don't like anybody at this plant. Yeah i can imagine What was the vigil last night. Like for you. The crowds were huge. And there was. We heard a little bit of of what Mcconnell saying what was it like for you honestly. I was right next to the entire time. 'cause i was on standby to go up representing the western muslim students association We ended up having to cut that out just because of all the policies and let showed up so we wanted to give them enough time to speak. So i was watching. I guess from. I guess the point of view the speakers i noticed so many people show up and it really was heartwarming because we had the sikh community come out and they were distributing water bottles to everybody ready So it was nice to see everyone together. I think in a moment of like Where everyone's worried and feels unsafe. Police have called this a targeted crime motivated by hate when you think this family being targeted simply because they were muslim i mean how what goes through your mind how do you how do you try to to understand that. Well i guess it's really difficult to understand in the sense that like when i go outside i were my job. Great so i like i while i understand is a target on my back. You don't feel the gravity understand the gravity of that until you find out somebody that you knew passed away because of that. You know that they were that. Their lives were taken solely based on the fact that they were muslim. So it's definitely uneasy in the sense where i don't know why people are staring at me. I don't know if it's because for example. They might like what i'm wearing or whether they are planning on doing. Something to mir eight of not being able to differentiate them makes me very uneasy especially now thinking going to public I think just touching on the the area where this happened. I go there often. It's just like a little bit farther from where this happened is where i do. My groceries walk in clinic rate. I go there like twice a week. So i've been there too like Photography for sunsets and things like that so to think that could have been me. Just because like i walk in the area and it's absolutely terrifying. If you think about it. Is that how it feels as as a woman who wears job that you have a target on your back. Yeah i mean definitely like there times where things happen and then i don't want to jump to conclusions but i'm not sure why they happen retrofits because i'm a woman because i'm a muslim woman rate like i don't wanna like i try to the best in people but definitely i will say that i do know that there are various awful big and you know there people who who would want to see me leave this country so it's it's not entirely surprising to me either at this point I remember on the same street on hyde park in sarnia just wanted to section. After i had gone. I think two months ago to do some of fees by the railroad because he's a beautiful sunset. Happens there every evening on the way. back on sergeant hyper. I had some of their Beer bottle at me out of there. Car window It again. it was one of those things where it's like. I'm not sure whether it's because. I am muslim because just walking on side of the road. I wasn't sure what it is but definitely get there are people who Just look at what. I'm wearing a fabric piece of fabric on my head and what i believe in. I think that's enough to The move my existence from the world. That's awful and i'm sorry for that. And i know that this is a familiar sentiment as well within the community. Wanna bring a couple more women into our conversation. Washington wasi rachmat is a community activist in edmonton aziza. Kanji is illegal academic who studies systemic islamaphobia in toronto. Good morning to you. Both watch as a woman who wears a job. And i know you've lived in a couple of different cities in this country in montreal end in edmonton. What's your experience. Been like Yet thinking that they You know i. I.
IlmFeed Podcast
Interview With Ustadha Muslema Purmul
"Today at handle i have with me. All the way from california will sell them. Monthly muslim pommel style is a muslim chaplain and scala. She graduated from the university of california san diego with a double major in religious studies and middle eastern studies as an undergraduate. She said at bear varying leadership roles for the muslim student association. She completed the bachelor program in sharia from her university in cairo and also completed graduate work at the american university in cairo in islamic studies. She is co founder and scholar in residence at south center for research and education. So a salaam. Aleikum where i lie. You've got to go to lie. Who didn't honor to be here with you and hound ally. I've been looking at some of your talks online and over the years i've heard about you. Masha llah always want to connect with with yourself. And with my sisters in america so This opportunity today to do that. How from the last the likewise. The work that you do is very impactful and And feed panama. We actually. I used to always wonder who. Who's behind. adam. Feed who's behind venus helen. So wonderful to meet you in even if it's virtually into intimidate the lettuce sister behind this this project wonderful community project michela and we are a team of people and masha. Lots of talented people involved joined the scene. So i feel honored to be part of this project because we try to bring positive inspiration to muslims all around the world so that you that also benefited atlantis. I worked the lao. It's interesting that you know. In the current climate of a pandemic how the programs that are being offered virtually and over the internet have now become so much more significant and so work of the work of and feed. You know is is truly a blessing for our community. And i think that that's something that bef- again before the pandemic it was there and it was beneficial but like during the time the time that people can actually gather is these types of projects that are really helping the communities You know heartbeat collective heartbeat keep pumping you know in the right direction with all. Our warton's reported them egis so My husband i founded a community institution. A i would call it like a community space and more. I guess we could. The best words to describe. It will be an intentional community. Third space project But the the methodist literally memes like a place to sit so people can sit really close together and learn and grow and you know have good companionship in all of that and penalty after the pandemic started. You know we we. We were completely puzzled because the whole idea was local. Sit next to each other. Know each other intimately as a community Support each other as brothers and sisters in person have live relationships and all's antisocial media you know the sense of or Was really like go back to the way things used to be where people would physically go out to a program and drop their kids off at the babysitting and that was really emphasizing that in the pandemic hit and we had we had to overnight transition everything virtually a that was a. That was a big just a challenge for us. But we realize we couldn't resist like this is now the way that we have to be both local and global. It's a lesson we learned the hard way. The the the yeah. I think everyone is having to adapt right by whatever plans anyone had had to rethink them But i've seen people being quite inventive quite like Innovative in their approach is to i guess overcoming the challenges of the pandemic so so tell us a also in california in general. How has it been like the effects of the pandemic and you know. What's the current situation. Are you still in a lockdown. Yeah we're actually. We went back to the most restrictive Phase of the lockdown so we're currently in purple there's different colors and purples the most severe and so that means that's the stay at home order. Which would which is how lockdown started and then it eased off. it transitioned in restaurants. Were open again and people could eat outside You know and now it's the opposite where things that were even slightly accessible are shut down again and So i want to say that the numbers are currently the highest ever been In terms of the numbers of people who are testing positive with covid nineteen and The the icu's are are almost full capacity so it's In that sense it is worse than actually. I mean they're describing in terms of numbers and percentages and on top of that people have covid fatigue so as we're in the beginning people were ready to try their best at this point. A lot of people are Are sort of easing off for I wanna say they're tired of keeping masses on things like that so it's It's a it's back in the next. Three weeks are expected to be probably one of the worst. I mean as according to the cdc the one of the worst health Situations in america and in particular california is bigger. I mean it hits california in a way that's more severe than maybe other parts of the country because of the major metropolitan cities rations of people in small areas