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Your place of worship and learning

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Stand in Unity against Hate, Xenophobia and Islamophobia

  • IONA
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The Islamic Organization of North America (IONA) co-hosted an event with Emgage titled Stand in Unity against Hate, Xenophobia and Islamophobia at the IONA banquet facility the evening of November 8. The purpose of the event is to show support and unity for marginalized communities.
The meeting was organized in response to a Republican fundraiser event at the Andiamo’s banquet facility in Warren where Steve Bannon was the key note speaker. A large protest was planned beforehand and executed by several activists groups that afternoon and evening. Steve Bannon is the recently fired chief strategist for the Trump White House and the architect of the white nationalist agenda being carried out by those in the current administration.

IONA’s outreach director, William Antoun, was instrumental in connecting organizers of the protest with Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer well before the planned protest. This helped to establish trust and cooperation so that a peaceful non-violent protest was carried out and the rights to free speech and assembly went uninterrupted. Any threats of violence by counter protesters were squashed by the Warren police who worked closely with the Sterling Heights Police to make sure there was ample security on both sides on 14 Mile Road.

Many of the protesters among other people from different communities attended the Stand in Unity event in the evening. Hassan Sheik of Emgage MC’d the event after William Antoun welcomed the crowd and gave a brief introduction. There was a long line up of speakers from many organizations fighting for social justice issues as well as elected officials and those running for office.

Michigan Senator Steve Bieda, State Representative Abdullah Hammoud, Gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed, congressional candidate Fayrouz Saad, Steve Spreitzer from the Michigan Roundtable for

Diversity and Inclusion, Bob Bruttell of the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit, Asha Noor from CAIR-MI, Nouor Subani from Take on Hate, Michael O’meara representing Bob Smith the chair of the Macomb County commissioners, and Adonis Flores from Michigan United among other speakers spoke passionately against hate and called for unity. The feeling and energy was high and very positive as the group made commitments to keep on working to struggle against the hate that is pervading our communities and towards defending the core American values of freedom, equality, and justice.
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IONA, 28630 Ryan Rd., Warren, MI 48092 | Tel: 586-558-6900 | E-mail: center@iononline.org
IONA’s mission is to transform its members and help transform the surrounding communities to righteous, God-fearing people, who collectively strive for the highest moral standard and constantly seek forgiveness from our Creator to earn His pleasure. We seek His compassion and mercy in this life and in the hereafter. We rejuvenate our soul through internal struggle and spiritual exercise in worship of our creator God. The strength of our belief in God gives us the courage to establish good and forbid evil, thus promoting a system of justice for all mankind.

About IONA

IONA's objective is to help the Muslims of North America understand and fulfill their divinely ordained obligations, in order to please Allah (SWT) and thereby achieve success and salvation in the Hereafter.

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