Tennessee Muslims Effectively

Tennessee Muslims Effectively Organize Against Islamophobia Free speech versus hate speech versus common sense

BY SABINA MOHYUDDIN

On 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 whatthe 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 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

Nashville hosted several members of The Tennessean’s editorial board and other guests, including politicians, for one of their Islam 101 Ramadan Fellowship Dinners. They hold around six such events every Ramadan, bringing together a wide range of people from nonprofits, politicians, educators, neighbors, businesses, athletics and the general public. This relationship had gradually produced many personal friendships.

In 2017, Plazas was asked to be a judge for the country displays at the Islamic Center of Nashville’s annual Diversity Brunch. Almost 1,000 visitors came from across the city. All of these and other efforts lay at the foundation of this mutually productive relationship.

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.

Moreover, the state’s Muslims have been forging alliances and friendships with faith communities, social justice organizations, elected officials and prominent individuals. These relationships enabled them to bring together organizations and fellow Tennesseans, including a U.S. congressman, city council members, Vanderbilt and Belmont and other local universities, the YWCA, the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, pastors, rabbis and others, to sign the pledge against Islamophobia and hate. Of course, they have built strong alliances and a united front with their fellow Muslims. Moreover, mosque officials have been working with the AMAC alongside other organizations like Millions of Conversations (https://millionsofconversations.com).

Mohyuddin cautions that as the election season goes into full swing, so will the anti-Muslim rhetoric. As witnessed in Tennessee, Muslim communities must continue to foster strong relationships with community leaders and allies to effectively fight the hate and misinformation that seeks to divide Americans. Fakhruddin also explains that building relationships must be approached from every angle and that we cannot dismiss something so simple as starting with those close to us and our mosques, such as neighbors, colleagues, police, school officials, politicians and area businesspeople. ih

You can make an impact with as little as $10 per month!

Your donation can help ISNA continue to offer: ★

The finest Muslim youth programs in the U.S. State of the art leadership training programs Top-quality Islamic conferences and events Opportunities to build bridges of understanding through community alliances and interfaith awarness programs