The best way to start is to get a small group of people who can brainstorm some ideas – hopefully creative and catchy ones – to inform and educate the public about the Muslim stance on justice and equality. Here are a few tips to start with:
The annual Day of Quds is right around the corner. Now is the time to start having meetings, organizing activities, and educational presentations, and planning our rallies before it’s too late. Planning too late will result in an unprofessional and uninformative presentation, and the purpose will be lost.
The Day of Quds is a day to commemorate the oppressed around the world, specifically the occupied territory of Palestine. This day – set by our late leader and guide, Imam Khomeini – is meant to unite Muslims and non-Muslims alike under the banner of justice and freedom for all from oppressive entities.
The best way to start is to get a small group of people who can brainstorm some ideas – hopefully creative and catchy ones – to inform and educate the public about the Muslim stance on justice and equality.
Here are a few tips to start with:
Start at home. Educate the community members, both young and old, through mini-presentations. Discuss statistics of casualties, home loss, and other such important aspects. Focus on a new point once a week; take turns or have the youth present in groups.
Create information slips. They could be about Divestment and the Boycott Israeli Goods campaign. Slips should be small, easy to read, and to the point. Talk about the product in what ways and how much it is supporting the Zionist regime.
Display boards. Have a display board where Iftar is served, to occupy community members as they wait to be served or get their meal. These boards can be simply graphics, or thought-provoking information, questions, ideas about the issue of Palestine and why we need to take action. (Example: Caption reads, “Not happy with your Iftar?” It compels the reader to look at his/her own full plate of Iftar, and then look back at the picture of a child or family eating the available Iftar in occupied lands.)
Protest/Rally. Organize a city-wide rally. Invite speakers from local universities/colleges (typically, the liberal arts professors are more interested than others). Tune in to your local independent talk show radio program and get in touch. Make fliers to advertise and post in popular areas such as schools, centers, newspapers, and on Facebook.
Combine Efforts. Combine efforts with fellow human rights groups in your city and at universities. Hold a joint program on campus with food and creative presentations (such as poetry and video clips). Allow time for discussion and questions after.
The ideas are endless! Some have even gone as far as renting a small moving truck, lifting the gate, having a projector hooked up to a laptop and continuously showing graphic images of the oppression taking place all over the world. Also make sure to advertise your local rally or protest the whole week before.
Even if all you can do is hold a small program in your centers, it is necessary and will not go unnoticed. Our job as Muslim brothers and sisters is to educate and inform others so that they may see the injustice, and that Islam is always on the side of good.
The Day of Quds is on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.
