News Recap – 7/5/2020

In a livestream hosted by Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), Imam Siraj Wahhaj spoke on the issue of systemic racism within the United States that Black Americans face regularly. Siraj Wahhaj, who was covered extensively by the Wall Street Journal in 2003, is no stranger to this subject, having spoken recently about George Floyd for Lampost Education and at the 14^thAnnual MAS-ICNA Convention in 2016.

During his talk, Siraj Wahhaj spoke about the importance of engagement, both at the community level and at the political level. Those familiar with Siraj Wahhaj know that political engagement has been a staple of his ideal paradigm for a successful community. According to Siraj Wahhaj, a successful community engages with individuals on a grassroots level and with politicians in the capacity of voting and holding them accountable.

Siraj Wahhaj urged Muslims of immigrant background to establish and strengthen their ties with Black Muslims in the inner cities. He also urged Muslim communities to use the influences and relationships that they’ve built with their local police department to push for reform that would benefit their countrymen and fellow Black Muslims.