(Cleveland, OH, 9/18/24) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations is partnered with the Arab American Voter Project (AAVP) and the Arab Americans of Cleveland Young Professionals Network (AAC) to host the first State and Local Candidates Town Hall for the Muslim and Arab communities Thursday, September 12.
The forum, held at La Villa Conference and Banquet Hall, provided an opportunity for congressional candidates to engage with the Muslim and Arab communities and for those communities to ask questions important to their communities of the candidates.
The event host was Director of Public Relations and Outreach of the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent and former president of Students for Justice in Palestine at Kent State University (KSU), Yaseen Shaikh and the moderator was Marwa Ghumrawi, the Director of Operations and Communications at the Washington Center for Yemeni Studies and board member of AAC.
All local and state candidates running in races across Cleveland and northern Ohio were invited to speak at the event. The candidates who did accept the invitation were Chris Glassburn (D) candidate for Ohio State House District 15, Sean Brennan(D) incumbent candidate for Ohio State House District 14, David Morgan(R) candidate for Ohio State District 14, Tristan Rader (D) candidate for Ohio State District 13, Judge Lisa Forbes (D) running for Ohio Supreme Court, by proxy incumbent candidate Judge Michael P. Donnelly (D) running for Ohio Supreme Court, Judge Melody J. Stewart (D) running for Ohio Supreme Court, Sue Durichko (D) candidate running for Ohio State District 24 and Thomas Patton(R) candidate running for Ohio State District 24.
President of the Arab Americans of Cleveland-Young Professionals Network, Omar Kurdi stated at the event,
“We are proud of our collaboration with CAIR-Ohio Cleveland Chapter and the Arab American Voter Project in hosting town halls that advance civic education. Last night’s event demonstrated out community’s commitment to demanding accountability from candidates and highlighted the candidates’ willingness to listen and respond. The is the moment to exercise our right to vote, voice our opinions, and champion a society grounded in accountability and justice.”
Hundreds of questions were submitted to the moderator, many of the questions included concerns about the crisis in Palestine, doxing issues, minority scholarships and incarcaree rights.
This Town Hall is the third event from the Candidates Town Hall series offered by the three organizations. The first Town Halls occurred before the March Primaries and the fourth segment will be held in October with a focus on county elections.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR-Ohio’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. CAIR-Ohio has offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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