By: Fatima Abuabsa, Senior at Cleveland State University
(CLEVELAND, OH, 6/26/23) – On Friday, May 12th, students from Cleveland State University, Case Western Reserve University, John Carroll University and Kent State University’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organized a fundraising event for the Palestinian Children Relief Fund’s (PCRF) Medical Missions charity, while also providing a platform to showcase the richness of Palestinian culture and people.
The event was held at Case Western Reserve University’s Linsalata Alumni Center. The night was filled with entertainment such as a performance of the traditional dabke dance, henna artists, local Palestinian comedian Tarek Muhammad, and a bazaar dedicated to supporting local Palestinian business owners. The event raised more than $2,500 in one night.
Many notable organizations attended this culture night, such as the Cleveland and Northern Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland), PCRF’s Steve Sosebee, Jewish Voices for Peace, Cleveland Peace Action, Al-Awda, and the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent.
CAIR-Cleveland’s Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh joined the event, in support of the students and their mission. Odeh emphasized the importance of freedom of speech, as CAIR’s mission is to uphold principles of freedom.
“As a Palestinian it makes me so happy to see people celebrate the Palestinian culture despite the generations of us going through the Palestinian diaspora. No matter where we are or how long it has been since we have set foot in our country, we still remember,” Odeh stated.
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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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Chapter Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh, 216.830.2247, fodeh@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202.744.7726, ihooper@cair.com