Dear CAIR-Philadelphia Supporter,
We hope you had a blessed Eid celebration and a joyous Ramadan. Now it is time for local Muslims, and all Americans, to put our civic engagement hats on and get ready to participate in the upcoming events commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11 – the day our country was viciously attacked, the day thousands of our fellow countrymen perished, and the day that unfairly put tarnish and suspicion on our faith.
CAIR-Philadelphia staff will be participating in panel discussions, media interviews and other events prior to Sunday, September 11, 2011. We invite you to participate in each of these events, but most importantly, it is imperative that local Muslims come out and commemorate the 10th anniversary that very Sunday. Muslims must not hide behind closed doors out of intimidation or insecurity, but participate, honor those that were lost, and educate those who are unaware of the beautiful and strong presence of Muslims here in the Delaware Valley.
CAIR-Philadelphia is a co-sponsor of the event Hands Across the Square: An Interfaith Remembrance of 9/11. We need volunteers and community members to commit to attending this event. It is a chance to not only commemorate 9/11 with fellow Americans of other faiths, but to also meet your Philadelphian neighbors, introduce yourself to them and teach them what being an American Muslim is all about. Following Hands Across the Square, we ask all participants to head over to Independence Mall for the City of Philadelphia’s commemoration of 9/11. For more information on all events, see below.
Activities Prior to 9/11
Tuesday, September 6
Listen to CAIR-PA Executive Director Moein Khawaja on National Public Radio (WHYY – 90.9 FM)
Tune-in to the Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane on Tuesday, September 6, between 10-11 am. On the program, Moein Khawaja will help listeners understand the Muslim community’s experience of that day (9/11), the immediate aftermath and the domestic and foreign policy responses to that day, and how those have affected the Muslim communities here in Philadelphia and elsewhere.
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Wednesday, September 7
9/11/2001 – 9/11/2011: A Decade of Advocacy: A Practical Lawyering Perspective
Moein Khawaja, along with Mary Catherine Roper of the ACLU-PA and Deepa Iyer of SAALT, will participate on a panel discussion hosted by the Drexel University Law school, A Decade of Advocacy: A Practical Lawyering Perspective. Panelists will discuss the immediate backlash of 9/11, the effects of government/security policies and the work that still needs to be done for the future.
Where: The Drexel Law School, Room 140 (3320 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA)
When: 9/7/2011, 5-6 pm, reception afterwards
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Saturday, September 10
World Affairs Council of Harrisburg – Ten Years Later: The Aftermath of Sept. 11
Rugiatu Conteh, CAIR-Philadelphia Outreach & Communications Director will speak on the panel “Muslim Perspectives of 9/11” at the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg’s conference, Ten Years Later: The Aftermath of Sept. 11 on Saturday, September 10th.
Where: Lebanon Valley College, Miller Chapel 101
When: 9/10/2011, Registration begins 8:30 am
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CAIR’s Award Winning Public Service Announcements (PSA) Expected to Air This Month
Make sure to look out for CAIR’s PSAs in the month of September. Three PSAs are expected to air on major television and radio outlets in Pennsylvania. In March, Hand Crank Films won a prestigious Gold Addy award for ‘9/11 Happened to Us All’, a PSA produced by CAIR. The Addy Awards recognizes excellence in advertising, as the spot was viewed over 1 million times in 2 weeks.
Watch the PSAs Online:
‘9/11 Happened to Us All’ – Firefighter
‘9/11 Happened to Us All’ – Medical Responder
‘We Have More in Common than We Think’
Events Commemorating 9/11
Hands Across the Square: An Interfaith Remembrance of 9/11
We need volunteers and community members to commit to attending this event. Please reply to this email if you can volunteer or if you plan on attending. It is a chance to not only commemorate 9/11 with fellow Americans of other faiths, but to also meet your Philadelphian neighbors, introduce yourself to them and teach them what being an American Muslim is all about.
Join us on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, as fourteen Rittenhouse-area congregations gather for prayers of peace and unity and to commemorate the heroes and victims of that day. People of all faiths – and of no particular faith – are welcome as we link hands across the square to celebrate the ties that unite us.
Schedule:
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Visit with representatives of congregations in tent booths surrounding the center of the Square
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – 9/11 remembrance ceremony in the center area of the Square, concluding in hands across the Square. Along with representatives of other faiths, Imam Richard Miller will open with an invocation, and Imam Marc Manley and our very own Zuneera Masood will read verses from the Qur’an.
When: Sunday, September 11, 2011
Where: Rittenhouse Square (18th and Walnut, Philadelphia)
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After Hands Across the Square, please consider staying in the city and participating in the following events:
Join the Religious Leaders Council of Greater Philadelphia for a prayer gathering of memory and hope on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
When: Sunday, September 11th, 2011 at 4:00pm
Where: Arch Street Friends Meeting House 4th & Arch Streets, Philadelphia PA
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Immediately following the prayer gathering, walk together to the City of Philadelphia’s Commemoration Event at 5:30pm on Independence Mall.
