| MAS Interfaith Community Coalition Against the Propagation of Obsessive |
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| Coalition Also Offers Support to Hate Hurts America 'Obsession With Hate' Project |
WASHINGTON, D.C. (MASNET) Sept. 25, 2008 – MAS Freedom (MASF) the civic and human rights
advocacy entity of the Muslim American Society (MAS), and MAS Freedom-North Carolina (MASF-
NC), are pleased to announce that in follow-up to the September 24, 2008 interfaith coalition
meeting with News & Observer publisher, vice president and editors regarding objections to the
distribution of the DVD film, "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West", requests for
additional meetings are coming in from across the nation.
"We have already spoken with representatives from the Charlotte News and Observer, the
Philadelphia Inquirer, the Virginia Pilot, the Detroit Free Press, the Denver Post and the Sioux City
Journal," stated MAS Freedom Executive Director Mahdi Bray.
advocacy entity of the Muslim American Society (MAS), and MAS Freedom-North Carolina (MASF-
NC), are pleased to announce that in follow-up to the September 24, 2008 interfaith coalition
meeting with News & Observer publisher, vice president and editors regarding objections to the
distribution of the DVD film, "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West", requests for
additional meetings are coming in from across the nation.
"We have already spoken with representatives from the Charlotte News and Observer, the
Philadelphia Inquirer, the Virginia Pilot, the Detroit Free Press, the Denver Post and the Sioux City
Journal," stated MAS Freedom Executive Director Mahdi Bray.
| MAS Freedom Interfaith Community Coalition Against the Propagation of Obsessive Hate Receives Meeting Requests from Across the Nation |
HHA is a non-partisan interfaith and community coalition formed by a wide base of religious and civic
organizations in an effort to address the rising problem of hatred against American minorities.
MAS Freedom echoes the concerns of HHA regarding the mass distribution of this hate DVD, through
70 US Newspapers in swing states, funded by a shadowy organization called The Clarion Fund
whose sources of funding are kept a guarded secret from the American public.
"Joining in support of HHA's campaign to protect the American traditions of religious and cultural
tolerance is something we encourage all people of conscious to do because hate-filled words,
agendas, campaigns and initiatives can and do lead to violent actions and crimes," stated Bray.
Additional supporters of HHA's project include, the California Council of Churches/California Church,
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, the Unitarian Universalist Church, the Social
Justice Council, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, Pax Christi Southern California,
St. Camillus, Progressive Christians Uniting, LA Jews for Peace, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, the Ecumenical Peace Institute, the North America Rabbi’s Association, the National
Alliance on Human Rights, the Coalition for Humane Rights of Immigrants, American Muslims in Law
Enforcement, the Unity Church of Tucson, the Michiana Peace and Justice Coalition, Democracy for
America, the Association of Mutli-Ethnic Americans, and the Foundation for Pluralism.
MAS Freedom and HHA firmly believe that one of the best ways conscientious Americans can stop
supporting hate speech is to join in the campaign of asking responsible companies to pull their
advertising dollars from hate-mongers, and to ask print media publishers and editors, and other
companies who distribute such advertising, to exercise the right to refuse publication and distribution
of advertising and promotional materials designed to infuse divisiveness in our communities.
In further support of MAS Freedom's interfaith campaign to educate media publishers, editors and
citizens at-large as to how to protect themselves from being party to the propagation of hate, we also
encourage you to visit the HHA project "Obsession With Hate" at www.obsessionwithhate.com.
The project offers a point-by-point rebuttal to propagandistic claims made in the 'Obsession' DVD,
provides a list of newspapers that delivered the film's DVD as an insert, a sampling of bigoted
statements made by controversial anti-Muslim figures interviewed for "Obsession," and examples of
the overwhelmingly negative media coverage of the Clarion Fund's controversial campaign to
influence voters.
As demonstrated by our support of the initiative launched by the Council on American Islamic
Relations (CAIR), requesting that the Federal Election Commission launch an investigation into the
funding behind the Clarion Fund, Inc., we also echo HHA's belief that the American people have a right
to know, and that the presidential candidates have a responsibility to speak out against anti-American
tactics that threaten to manipulate our election process in a manner reminiscent of Communist and
Fascist Propaganda-prone nations," Bray stated.
While hate-mongers have a First Amendment right to spew their hate speech, Americans of all
backgrounds also have a First Amendment right not to support hate speech.
As Greensboro, N.C. News & Record editor John Robinson so aptly put it in commenting on his
newspaper's decision to decline the potential advertising revenue it might have garnered by
distributing the 'Obsession' DVD, 'Just because you can publish doesn't mean you should'."
We encourage community members to thank not only the Greensboro News & Record for taking a
principled stand against the propagation of hate, but acknowledge the editors and publishers of
newspapers and magazines across the nation who have also refused to distribute the 'Obsession'
DVD.
If you would like to participate in MAS Freedom's campaign by participating in future delegation
meetings, please contact:
Call MAS Freedom at (202) 552-7414, or toll free at 1-888-627-8471.
You can also email us at : mas.freedom @yahoo.com
organizations in an effort to address the rising problem of hatred against American minorities.
MAS Freedom echoes the concerns of HHA regarding the mass distribution of this hate DVD, through
70 US Newspapers in swing states, funded by a shadowy organization called The Clarion Fund
whose sources of funding are kept a guarded secret from the American public.
"Joining in support of HHA's campaign to protect the American traditions of religious and cultural
tolerance is something we encourage all people of conscious to do because hate-filled words,
agendas, campaigns and initiatives can and do lead to violent actions and crimes," stated Bray.
Additional supporters of HHA's project include, the California Council of Churches/California Church,
Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, the Unitarian Universalist Church, the Social
Justice Council, Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, Pax Christi Southern California,
St. Camillus, Progressive Christians Uniting, LA Jews for Peace, the Council on American-Islamic
Relations, the Ecumenical Peace Institute, the North America Rabbi’s Association, the National
Alliance on Human Rights, the Coalition for Humane Rights of Immigrants, American Muslims in Law
Enforcement, the Unity Church of Tucson, the Michiana Peace and Justice Coalition, Democracy for
America, the Association of Mutli-Ethnic Americans, and the Foundation for Pluralism.
MAS Freedom and HHA firmly believe that one of the best ways conscientious Americans can stop
supporting hate speech is to join in the campaign of asking responsible companies to pull their
advertising dollars from hate-mongers, and to ask print media publishers and editors, and other
companies who distribute such advertising, to exercise the right to refuse publication and distribution
of advertising and promotional materials designed to infuse divisiveness in our communities.
In further support of MAS Freedom's interfaith campaign to educate media publishers, editors and
citizens at-large as to how to protect themselves from being party to the propagation of hate, we also
encourage you to visit the HHA project "Obsession With Hate" at www.obsessionwithhate.com.
The project offers a point-by-point rebuttal to propagandistic claims made in the 'Obsession' DVD,
provides a list of newspapers that delivered the film's DVD as an insert, a sampling of bigoted
statements made by controversial anti-Muslim figures interviewed for "Obsession," and examples of
the overwhelmingly negative media coverage of the Clarion Fund's controversial campaign to
influence voters.
As demonstrated by our support of the initiative launched by the Council on American Islamic
Relations (CAIR), requesting that the Federal Election Commission launch an investigation into the
funding behind the Clarion Fund, Inc., we also echo HHA's belief that the American people have a right
to know, and that the presidential candidates have a responsibility to speak out against anti-American
tactics that threaten to manipulate our election process in a manner reminiscent of Communist and
Fascist Propaganda-prone nations," Bray stated.
While hate-mongers have a First Amendment right to spew their hate speech, Americans of all
backgrounds also have a First Amendment right not to support hate speech.
As Greensboro, N.C. News & Record editor John Robinson so aptly put it in commenting on his
newspaper's decision to decline the potential advertising revenue it might have garnered by
distributing the 'Obsession' DVD, 'Just because you can publish doesn't mean you should'."
We encourage community members to thank not only the Greensboro News & Record for taking a
principled stand against the propagation of hate, but acknowledge the editors and publishers of
newspapers and magazines across the nation who have also refused to distribute the 'Obsession'
DVD.
If you would like to participate in MAS Freedom's campaign by participating in future delegation
meetings, please contact:
Call MAS Freedom at (202) 552-7414, or toll free at 1-888-627-8471.
You can also email us at : mas.freedom @yahoo.com
"Community response to MAS Freedom's
awareness initiative has been encouraging. It is
important that we reach out – this of grassroots
support will only help to strengthen our working
relationship with the media. We applaud the efforts
of individuals, faith communities, civic action
organizations and others, for encouraging more
individuals to stand in solidarity on this important
issue," Bray added.
In conjunction with its national campaign to call on
mainstream and local print media publishers,
editors and distributors nationwide to withdraw
and refrain from future publication of hate-filled
advertising and promotional products (such as the
'Obsession' DVD) MAS Freedom announces its
support of the Hate Hurts America (HHA) campaign.
awareness initiative has been encouraging. It is
important that we reach out – this of grassroots
support will only help to strengthen our working
relationship with the media. We applaud the efforts
of individuals, faith communities, civic action
organizations and others, for encouraging more
individuals to stand in solidarity on this important
issue," Bray added.
In conjunction with its national campaign to call on
mainstream and local print media publishers,
editors and distributors nationwide to withdraw
and refrain from future publication of hate-filled
advertising and promotional products (such as the
'Obsession' DVD) MAS Freedom announces its
support of the Hate Hurts America (HHA) campaign.
RELATED: Daniel Pipes
Join Hate Hurts America
MAS Freedom Campaigns for Meetings with Newspapers Involved in Distribution of 'Obsession' DVD
MAS Freedom Joins Call for Federal Election Commission Investigation into Clarion Fund, Inc.
MAS Freedom Applauds Greensboro, NC News & Record for Principled Stand Against Distribution of
'Obsession' DVD
Join Hate Hurts America
MAS Freedom Campaigns for Meetings with Newspapers Involved in Distribution of 'Obsession' DVD
MAS Freedom Joins Call for Federal Election Commission Investigation into Clarion Fund, Inc.
MAS Freedom Applauds Greensboro, NC News & Record for Principled Stand Against Distribution of
'Obsession' DVD
