The Muslim Association of Virginia has served in a wide range of activities to promote unity, and in the current state of change going on both nationally and locally, are taking their plans of promoting anti-racism to the next level. Last week they hosted a community town hall to introduce the Anti-Racism Task Force (ART).

MAV Vice President and ART Steering Committee Member Taalibah Hassan moderated the discussion, with fellow Steering Committee Member, Omar Francis giving an inspiring lesson on the importance of establishing the task force in times such as these.

“We cannot understate the traumatic impact that slavery & colonialism has had on the world as a whole,” said Francis. “The good thing about complexes is that they can be changed.”

“There is only one race, the human race. Love is the antidote to hate.”

MAV Board Member, Education Chair, and Task Force Leader Da’In Johnson provided the ART mission statement: “To combat anti-Blackness, prejudice, discrimination, oppression, and all aspects of racism within the Muslim community as well as in the wider society, promoting equity and justice.”

The 5 MAV ART Objectives are:

• To facilitate understanding of anti-Blackness and the impacts of colonialism and racism through educational programming for both Muslims and non-Muslims.
• To promote action and activism through policies, partnerships, protests, and demonstrations.
• To create space for Black Muslims within MAV that encourages full participation at all levels.

• To work on dismantling systemic racism at the local, state and federal levels.

• To work with legislators on reimaging public safety and policing of the future that will best serve all people equally.

“MAV is in this for the marathon, not the sprint,” said Johnson, who also serves on the Prince William County Citizens Advisory Board on behalf of the MAV.

“I find that this is the time for catharsis. Not just for African-Americans, but for everyone.”

Aeshah Sheikh, who has been a prominent voice and activist within the Black Lives Matter movement, asked how non-Black members of MAV can be the best allies possible.

ART has created a steering group which is going to be wide ranging. Protesting and demonstrations will be a part of the plan.

While the plans for the ART are in development, the MAV will continue to participate in engagement through their actions to bring education and enrichment in efforts to create a culture of understanding.

Mohammad Usman, who serves on the Human Rights Commission (Coles District), is a MAV Board Member, and the Fundraising Chair, talked about serving as a liaison within MAV and the local community.

For more details on MAV’s numerous contributions to the PWC community, please visit their website and Facebook page.

#MuslimHistoryIsBlackHistory