RICMA PAC

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Political Action Committee (PAC)

Welcome to RICMA PAC

RICMA PAC supports all RI Masajid and RI Muslim organizations, and does not endorse any political party or candidate. We are a group dedicated to promoting unity of the RI Muslim community and to the following goals:

Relationship building with public officials, media and other outlets.
Public outreach and coalition building.
Reinforcement of national and regional Muslim organizations.
Educating the community on the voting process at general and presidential elections.

RICMA PAC is the broadest reach RI Muslim organization with the largest email list and over 1,500 recipients of our printed six-month publications. The first step in your participation in this important cause is to be informed of current issues affecting all of us and actions we are planning to take as a unified community. Email us at pac@ricma.org to be included on our email list. We usually send 1 to 2 emails per month for the convenience of our membership. May Allah reward and guide us in supporting each other.

Meetings

We meet at the Islamic School of Rhode Island, RI mosques, and other sites where all community members are invited to participate. Meeting reminders and instructions are provided through our mailing list. PAC general meeting structure is as follows:

Membership proposes meeting agenda by contacting PAC coordinator at pac@ricma.org.

Decisions proposed at meetings require a majority vote by those present and voting.

Emergency Action Group votes on emergency decisions and comprises individuals who will rotate regularly.

Pertinent information will be provided to membership through the mailing list.

Past and Future Actions

As a service to the RI Muslim community, let us know about significant issues of public interest that you are facing and we are glad to write to the government officials, media, and our coalitions. Below are our past actions. Email us and we are happy to provide copies of our actions for reproduction, editing, use in any community organizing that promotes Muslim unity, or for your personal reference.

2.7.2011 - Organized the rally in front of the RI State House in support of Egyptian revolution. We attracted participation of several Muslim friendly coalitions such as the Rhode Island Mobilization Committee to Stop War and Occupation (RIMC) and RI Progressive Democrats, church representatives, and Muslim groups. Article and video: http://www.projo.com/ri/providence/content/EGYPT_RALLY_02-07-11_I3MC4H1_v8.1788c19.html.

2.7.2011 - Letter for Egyptian revolution asking RI senators and representatives in the U.S. congress to vote for stopping all support for Mubarak’s regime and to advance support for Egyptian people’s right for self-determination.

3.2.2011 - RICMA PAC established and maintains relationships with Muslim friendly coalitions in RI such as the RIMC and RI Progressive Democrats.

4.9.2011 - Co-organized RI Muslim participation in the anti-war/anti-Islamophobia rally in New York City attended by thousands of people and hundreds of friendly coalitions, and followed up with government officials and media. Article: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/173995.html, video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHUsjwbwD-A, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COzbWOXqnMc.

5.12.2011 - Letter concerning the Patriot Act asking RI senators and representatives in the U.S. congress to vote for the expiration of controversial provisions that permit the government to investigate individuals even if they are not suspected of any wrongdoing and without prior court approval.

6.20.2011 - RICMA PAC communicated with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR, the largest Muslim civil rights organization) regarding the MSNBC’s extremely biased survey about Islamic schools in the U.S.

7.1.2011 - Letter in support of Syrian revolution asking RI senators and representatives in the U.S. congress to send a clear message to Syrian military commanders that they must protect their people and not the Assad regime, or they will be tried on crimes against humanity.

7.27.2011 - RICMA PAC cosponsored a panel featuring Islamophobia as the main topic. Mufti Ikram Ul-Haq was the keynote speaker about Islamophobia.

8.10.2011 - RICMA PAC communication with the RI Muslim community encouraging aid for the East African crisis where children died of hunger by thousands per day, and outlining ways to send rush aid through the Islamic Relief. Masajid and Muslim groups started collecting and sending aid to the Islamic Relief shortly after the communication.

8.23.2011 - RICMA PAC reinforced CAIR and sent a letter to the CEO of Electrolux and other executives to request that his company grant legally-mandated religious accommodation to pray to its Muslim employees in Minnesota.

10.20.2011 - RICMA PAC reinforced CAIR and sent letters asking RI senators and representatives in the U.S. congress to vote for removal of the controversial language in two pending Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acts that singles out American Muslims for additional scrutiny.

12.6.2011 - RICMA PAC petitioned RI senators and representatives in the U.S. congress to reject the U.S. Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1867), which allows for arrest and indefinite military detention of American citizens without charge or trial.

1.21.2012 - RICMA PAC reinforced the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and sent letters asking RI senators and representatives in the U.S. congress to endorse the Due Process Guarantee Act that would bar the military from detaining U.S. citizens without charge or trial.

Rhode Island Council For Muslim Advancement