PPRC observes National Day of Solidarity with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Immigrants, joins 80+ groups planning for March 20th global mobilization.

Event: PPRC Friday Rally observes National Day of Solidarity with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Immigrants, joins 80+ groups planning for March 20th mobilization.
Date: Friday, February 20th, 2004
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Place: Pioneer Courthouse Square

The Portland Peaceful Response Coalition�s Friday rally will observe the National Day of Solidarity with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Immigrants, joining with actions in San Francisco and other large US cities, condemning the scapegoating and criminalization of immigrant communities, especially in the aftermath of the 9-11 attacks. "Our neighbors of Islamic, Middle East and South Asian heritage have been subjected to unprecedented harassment, to mass roundups, indefinite detentions, secret trials, and vicious bigoted news reporting and editorials in our local media, and we stand with them to oppose these hateful policies," said Will Seaman, a volunteer with the PPRC. "We will not allow the David Reinhards and Lars Larsons of the world to spew their hateful bigotry without challenge, and we will not let John Ashcroft dismantle the Bill of Rights as he pursues a witch hunt against our neighbors in the immigrant community."

David Reinhard is a local columnist who made issues of the Muslim beard and the use of an anglicized name by one of the Portland Seven in commentaries on their prosecution. Larson, a local radio host, took part in a tour of Israel paid for by Project Interchange, an organization that promotes pro-Israeli government views of the Israel/Palestine conflict. His broadcasts from Israel supporting the illegal occupation of the West Bank were challenged and condemned as biased and insulting to Palestinians.

The Friday rally will also kick off a month of community outreach in support of an international day of action against war and occupation, set to take place on March 20th. "Already we�ve signed on over eighty local peace and social action groups in support of this global mobilization against war," said Mikel Clayhold, another PPRC volunteer. "Organized labor, the faith community, advocates for the poor and the homeless, are again coming together to speak out again against Bush�s criminal wars and against an occupation that will continue to claim US soldiers� lives until we succeed in ending it."

Back to PPRC-news home