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An evening of community singing for peace and healing
AMV Report
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists invited the American Muslim Voice to join in an evening of community singing for peace and healing held on September 11. AMV Executive Director, Ms. Samina Faheem, who was asked by the event organizers how they can help the Muslim community, briefed the audience about the plight of the community since 9/11 and invited them to join Inter-community Action Circle came together out of a need and desire to oppose the unjustified attacks on Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians. While acknowledging the importance and heartening work of many interfaith networks in the Bay Area and across the country, the AMV proposes not only to dialog and learn from each other, but to work together to build a community of resistance to injustice and create a culture of hope, Ms. Faheem said adding that this objective can be achieved by understanding, acceptance, mutual respect and celebrating our diversity (Picture shows AMV Executive Director, Ms. Samina Faheem (second from left) with the Unitarian church Berkeley choir group members.)
The American Muslim Voice also joined a program sponsored by the People's NonViolent Response Coalition (PNVRC) to commemorate the second anniversary of Sept. 11 in Oakland. The PNVRC is a multi-issue coalition of groups and individuals  who have come together to formulate and promote nonviolent alternatives to the "war on terrorism" both at home and abroad. Speaking on this occasion, Ms. Samina Faheem emphasized that the American Muslim Voice’s main goal is to help bridge the gap between communities. “We have decided to focus on forming friendships with all of our fellow Americans regardless of race, religion and culture.”
The American Muslim Voice was also invited to the special event held at the University of California Berkeley under the theme: American backlash: Fight against hate crime and political oppression in the post-9/11. The event was organized by students groups - USBSSA, AHMSA, CAL MSA, - along with ACLU Berkeley, Bridges and the office of the UC President.
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