ISLAM IN AMERICA
Tennessee Muslims Effectively Organize Against Islamophobia Free speech versus hate speech versus common sense BY SABINA MOHYUDDIN
O
n June 21, 2020, The Tennessean ran a full-page Islamophobic advertisement alleging that “Islam” was planning “to detonate a nuclear device” in Nashville on July 18. Muslim leaders expressed their outrage. However, the intentional harm it sought to cause couldn’t be undone by simply pulling it because not only did it make Nashville’s Muslims targets, but it also set a dangerous precedent over what the newspaper was willing to print in the name of free speech. The American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC; https://www.amactn.org), which empowers the state’s Muslims through civic engagement, community building and improved media relations, along with Muslim leaders, demanded that The Tennessean act to undo the harm. AMAC brought together community members to condemn Islamophobia and stand against hate. Nearly 700 organizations and community members across the state stood with Muslims to condemn Islamophobia in a full-page ad published by The Tennessean on June 28. “We know many more are standing by our side. That is the power of community. But this is not just about Islamophobia. This is about the hate that is used to divide our community. The hate that is spewed against all groups whether it’s through anti-Black racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, homophobia and more,” said AMAC executive director Sabina Mohyuddin.
She stressed, “We must stand together to send a clear message that we will fight against hate wherever we find it.” The Tennessean’s editors, reporters and staff apologized to community leaders for
50 ISLAMIC HORIZONS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020
their “mistake” and announced the steps they were taking to make amends. In his June 28 editorial David Plazas, director of opinion and engagement for the USA Today Network in Tennessee, apologized for the ad and past Islamophobic articles. Ryan Kedzierski, the newspaper’s vice-president of advertising, accompanied it with a full-page apology. Islamic Center of Nashville director of community partnerships Rashed Fakhruddin said, “We are also grateful to The Tennessean, their leadership, in their swift action in correcting the situation, taking this issue seriously and making this a top priority, and their sincerity throughout this process.” The Tennessean donated the ad’s proceeds to AMAC for its work in fighting Islamophobia in the state and $50,000 free ad space for the community’s response. They fired the sales manager, implemented stronger protocols to prevent such puerile content from being published again and will conduct regular cultural competency training. Community leaders received this swift response due to the many years spent building relationships with the newspaper’s leadership. Muslims have written editorials in The Tennessean for over 15 years, commenting on issues relating directly to Islam and issues affecting Nashville. They knew whom to call to have their stories covered, and didn’t hesitate to inform the writers whenever fair representation in coverage was lacking. In 2015, the Islamic Center of
