Rights Group Joins North Carolina's Stand Against Racism Day

North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue and Raleigh, North Carolina Mayor Charles Meeker have designated April 30, 2010 as YWCA Stand Against Racism Day in the state. Join the YWCA, over 2,000 groups across the nation, and over a quarter of a million individuals participating in this movement.

Meet us on Friday, April 30^th, 11 am at the YWCA, 554 E. Hargett St, in Raleigh. The group will then march a few blocks to Moore Square in Downtown Raleigh for a one-hour program beginning at noon. 

This special event will feature a beautiful program with Dr. David Forbes, a former leader of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and students from the Moore Square Museum Magnet Middle School. SNCC was instrumental in organizing the sit-in demonstrations in 1960 that led to the racial desegregation of public institutions and facilities in North Carolina.

Khalilah Sabra, the National Immigration Rights Coordinator of Muslim American Society Freedom (MAS Freedom), commented that, "It is important for Muslims in North Carolina to join hands with the African-American community in standing against the rising tide of racism and anti-immigrant rhetoric that is clearly on the rise in North Carolina and the nation.  We urge the Muslim community to join in this important event, and to continue to build stronger alliances within our community and with other communities in North Carolina who are organizing for freedom and social justice for all people."

She went on to say that "While the Governors of Mississippi and Virginia celebrate Confederate History Month, we send special kudos to Governor Bev Perdue for taking a principled stand to oppose the history of racism and slavery that, unfortunately, other public officials in the South seem ready to commemorate."

It's not too late to sign up! Visit www.StandAgainstRacism.org to join the movement. Click "Become a Participating Site." Your group's Stand can be anything you want that resists racism: a time of silence, reading anti-racist quotes, highlight a program in your organization, a march, public art, or creating a small discussion group-the process is flexible and united together, we can become a powerful symbol of equality.