Author: Richard N.
Ostling
Publication: The Associated
Press
Date: September 4, 2000
Rosemont, Ill.
(AP) - U.S. Muslims were urged by two supporters on Capitol Hill
to begin flexing their political muscle, while plans were outlined to do
just that on Nov. 7.
An estimated 30,000 Muslims,
gathered for the Islamic Society of North America convention, were addressed
by congressmen David Bonior, D-Mich., and Tom Campbell, R- Calif.
Bonior extended greetings
from Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore while Campbell read a statement
from Gore's GOP rival, George W. Bush.
As he often has, Bush
said he wants to help "rally the armies of compassion" in churches, mosques,
synagogues and charities to help the needy.
Bonior, calling Islam
the country's fastest-growing religion, said, "You are giving Islam in
America the strong voice it needs, and deserves ... The challenge
for Muslims is to translate your activism into political strength."
Both congressmen, regarded
as allies of the Muslim community, criticized a 1996 anti-terrorism bill
that allows the immigration service to hold people based on anonymous accusations.
The so-called "secret evidence" bill is a prime grievance of U.S.
Muslims.
The convention also heard
plans for a bloc voting strategy to give Muslims leverage in the November
election.
Agha Saeed, chairman
of the California-based American Muslim Alliance, said four Islamic political
groups have agreed to send questionnaires to mosques and other Islamic
organizations, compile the results, and issue endorsements in the presidential
and other key races two weeks before the election.
In the past, some Muslims
have questioned the value of political involvement, and no such joint effort
has been attempted.
Saeed's organization
calculates that Muslim votes could make the difference in close races in
14 states.
Though the figure is
sometimes disputed, speakers said U.S. Muslims number at least 6
million.
Also Sunday, the Muslim
American Society held its annual conference nearby in Chicago. That
event was highlighted by a show of unity between by Imam W. Deen
Mohammed, the society's leader, and the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan.
The two have been rivals,
but on Sunday smiled, shook hands and then embraced before thousands of
worshippers. "Today, we are determined to be one family. We
are determined to be a nation of Muslims," Farrakhan said.
