AMP chairman speaks at forum against hate ads

(CHICAGO 02/07/2013) -- AMP National Chairman Dr. Hatem Bazian addressed a San Francisco public forum on Jan. 31 as the opening speaker representing the concerns of Palestinians, Arab and  Muslims in the city. The forum was in response to hate ads that appeared on San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority (SFMTA) buses last fall that called Arabs and Muslims “savage.”

More than 70 community members and allies, including a dozen city officials, attended the forum to denounce the ads, which were placed by Pamela Geller and her anti-Muslim organization American Freedom Defense Initiative, a hate group, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.  

"Using the term ‘savage’ on public transportation brings painful memories to communities that have been called as such in the way toward their demonization and oppression; from Native Americans, African Americans, Chinese Americans to Japanese Americans,” said Dr. Bazian. “And, for sure today, it is the Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims who are being racialized.”

 Community members highlighted for attendees the harmful effects of bigoted speech. Muslim and Arab youth talked about being called terrorists at school and Muni bus driver, Faisal Alkhanshali, spoke of fearing for the safety of his family because of rising Islamophobia.

The community forum was part of an agreement with SFMTA officials that resulted from campaign launched last fall by AMP, Jewish Voice for Peace, Council for American Islamic Relations – San Francisco Bay Area, and the Asian Law Caucus against the ad. The transit authority also placed a disclaimer next to each of the Geller ads as part of the agreement.

"Geller may have a legal right to place those ads but that doesn't make it right for her to place them" said Zahra Billoo, CAIR-SFBA executive director.

Community organizations, including AMP, Asian Law Caucus, the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, the Arab Cultural and Community Center and the CAIR-SFBA, organized the forum for the people of San Francisco to express outrage over the ads and reaffirm the city's commitment to diversity and tolerance. The forum took place atthe Tenderloin Recreation Center.

City officials in attendance included San Francisco Board of Supervisors President David Chiu; Supervisor Eric Mar; San Francisco Municipal Transit Authority Chairman Tom Nolan; SFMTA Director Edward Reiskin; Joel Ramos, Cheryl Brinkman, also of SFMTA; Tracey Packer and Susana Hennessey-Lavery of the San Francisco Department of Public Health; Director Theresa Sparks, Nadia Babella, and Zoe Polk of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. 

Allies who testified included Rev. Shad Riddick, of the Metropolitan Baptist Church; Chris Punonbayan, of the Asian Law Caucus; Daniel Redman, of the DLKLawGroup; Emma Rubin, of the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network; and Alicia Garza and Jaaron Browne of POWER.

(Photo credit: Zahra Billoo, CAIR-SFBA)