Faith & Action Fridays for today, September 2nd

3 fast actions you can feel good about taking, Indiana — plus, one sweet role!

As salaamu alaykum, Indiana—

Welcome to this week's edition of Faith & Action Fridays. This week, we've got 4 things to share.

Action #1: Pakistan Emergency Flood Aid

"Heartbreaking" doesn't begin to describe the news out of Pakistan. More than 30 million people have been affected by flooding and monsoon rains within the last several weeks.¹ As it stands, approximately a third of Pakistan has been described as submerged following flash floods this past weekend.² It is a climate catastrophe. 

Khaled Beydoun, the international author & activist, and Droplets of Mercy have started a LaunchGood page to provide badly needed emergency flood aid to those most urgently affected in Pakistan. 

They're about to hit $200,000 raised for assistance in just a few days — can you help push them over the top?

Action #2: RSVP for the #NoTechForApartheid Day of Action

ICYMI: This week, tech worker organizer Ariel Koren, active in our #NoTechForApartheid campaign, resigned from Google.³

Her resignation letter cited Google's retaliation and the silencing of Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other workers speaking up for Palestinian freedom at the company. Unfortunately, Ariel's story is not unique. 

That's why, next week, we're turning up the pressure in solidarity with tech workers by holding direct actions at Google and Amazon offices across the country to demand they stop doing business with apartheid and cut their $1.2B contract with the Israeli government and military. 

If you live in San Francisco, Seattle, or New York City, RSVP here to join a No Tech For Apartheid action next Thursday, September 8th!

Action #3: Sign up for our panel: "Police Surveillance in the Tech Era"

In the 21 years since the September 11th attacks, tech-powered police surveillance has grown tremendously  — but so is powerful community saying safety is not surveillance.

Part of that story is the increasing focus on audio surveillance tools like ShotSpotter, whose equipment has been quietly installed in over 100 US cities.

Muslim leaders and activists are working to stop tech-powered police surveillance tools, including audio surveillance infrastructure like ShotSpotter — and next week, on Friday September 9th, we're hosting a panel on how you get can involved.

We'll be talking about how police surveillance has changed and expanded since 9/11 21 years ago — and how we can stem the tide. 

Join our panelists Linda Sarsour, of MPower Change; Sarah T. Hamid, of Carceral Tech Resistance Network; and Khaled Alexander, of Pillars of the Community. 

Yasmine Taeb of MPower Action will moderate this conversation on surveillance of Muslim communities, and the growing movement to stop racist police surveillance tech like ShotSpotter. RSVP here.

Action #4: One Sweet Role:

We're excited to announce that we are looking for 4 #MyMuslimVote Changemakers to maximize voter turnout of Muslim voters in key states through the non-partisan MyMuslimVote campaign!

If you, or someone you know, would be interested in a part-time fellowship from now until Election Day supporting our #MyMuslimVote work, don't hesitate to drop a line!

"By the passage of time!

Surely humanity is in grave loss,

except those who have faith, do good, and urge each other to the truth, and urge each other to perseverance. Quran 103:1-3" 

Wishing you a restful, restorative, and meaningful weekend.

The MPower Change Team

 

Sources:

1. "Pakistan floods have affected more than 30 million: Minister", Al Jazeera, August 25, 2022 
2. "Pakistan's flooding crisis highlights the cruel reality of climate catastrophe", MSNBC, August 30, 2022
3. "Google Employee Who Played Key Role in Protest of Contract With Israel Quits," The New York Times, Aug. 30, 2022.

MPower Change is a grassroots movement of diverse Muslim communities working together to build social, spiritual, racial, and economic justice for all people. Support our work.

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