Building Bridges in a Global Village
Tuesday, August 22nd, 7pm
Olympia Center
222 Columbia in downtown Olympia

Misconceptions and stereotypes about Islam are normalized in our culture. What do we know about Islam? How do prejudices affect our Muslim community? What can we do to challenge Islamophobia? This forum offers an opportunity to learn about Islam, to gain awareness and for communities to come together. Speakers include James Yusuf Yee, former US Army Chaplain, Imam Mohammad Joban, Imam of the Islamic Center of Olympia and Amy Annette Winslow, member of the Islamic Center of Olympia.

President Bush recently stated, "The nation is at war with Islamic fascists". This statement fosters intolerance of Muslims while equating Islam with Nazism and totalitarianism. In response, the Muslim American Society’s Freedom Foundation said, “The misdeeds or alleged misdeeds of some Muslims cannot be used to stereotype a community of more that a billion believers.” Muslims are being profiled solely on the basis of their religion and/or ethnicity and general intolerance of Islam is on the rise since September 11th, 2001. According to the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the recent arrests of Muslims in the US and Great Britain and accusations of a terrorist plot have heightened the fear of a backlash in the Muslim community.

Imam Mohammad Joban of the Islamic Center of Olympia spoke in reference to the upcoming event at the Olympia Center, "What we need to do now is to build bridges, learn about each other's cultures and make friendships. That is the only way the negative stereotypes from the media can be broken."

This event is sponsored by Amnesty International Olympia Chapter #474, Olympians for Peace in the Middle East and the Islamic Center of Olympia.