Minneapolis community marches against Islamophobia

Minneapolis City, Minnesota (IINA) - Over 250 people, including Muslims and non-Muslims, rallied and marched through the Cedar-Riverside and Seward neighborhoods in Minneapolis, U.S. on Saturday, showing solidarity and denouncing the hate crimes being committed against Muslims.
The Minnesota Anti-War Committee (AWC) organized the march to draw attention to the cost of 15 years of the war on terror at home. Misty Rowan of the AWC said: “We need to stand up against Islamophobia and the government’s targeting of our Muslim sisters and brothers as terrorists. As we marched through the Somali-American community, we saw many smiling faces and raised fists from people in cars and on balconies. There was a real feeling of solidarity and gratitude from the people who live in the neighborhood.”
This protest was part of a national call by Stand Together “Against Racism” “Islamophobia” and was co-sponsored by the AWC and Minnesotans Against Islamophobia (MAI). The march was endorsed by anti-war groups, student organizations, anti-police brutality groups and the St. Paul Federation of Teachers, Fight Back! Newspaper reported.
The march opposed the anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim speech coming from candidates during this election season. Donald Trump was called out by speakers from the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee for his calls for banning Muslims from entering the U.S. and for building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
The protest started at May Day Plaza and included a march to the headquarters of the Republican Party of Minnesota on Franklin Avenue, where they confronted the Islamophobic message of Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate.
Sabri Wazwaz, a Palestinian-American activist with the Minnesota Anti-War Committee, was the first speaker to address the crowd before leading chants on the march route. He spoke out against the U.S. government’s use of terrorism as an excuse to attack Muslims at home and abroad. “Today people of all faiths, color and no faith stood together in solidarity to say no to Islamophobia and racism. It was wonderful and beautiful to see.”
From his side, Burhan Mohammed, a Somali-American activist with Minnesotans Against Islamophobia, explained the significance of the protest for himself and many of his fellow community members, “We can and must confront the climate of fear promoted by the haters like Trump. Coming out to protests, with Muslims and non-Muslims in solidarity, is one of the strongest ways that I can think of to do this. Today I witnessed the power of the people. We marched to together for justice. I feel more inspired and empowered by the people.”
For his part, Filsan Ibrahim and Aisha Mohammed both spoke at the rally and denounced the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program run by the Department of Justice in Minneapolis. CVE criminalizes and spies on the Somali community in Minnesota and is a classic divide and conquer tactic using ‘trusted’ individuals and organizations; infiltrators posing as friends, teachers in schools, and social service organizations.