Civil Rights

Since September 11, 2001, the civil rights of citizens and non-citizens in the United States have been resting on more than shaky ground, due to a number of measures, both legal and illegal, instituted by the government

While this holiday holds historical importance as a commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s sacrifices and role as a premiere civil rights leader, this year it is even more significant. Here are a couple of easy ways to make the most of it.

The climate for Muslims today is very much as it was for Americans of Japanese descent during World War II. Japanese-Americans in the Western states were rounded up and moved to internment camps so they wouldn't aid and abet the enemy. Similarly, Muslims are treated like the enemy and are living in virtual internment camps.

If there is any group of Americans that understands what Muslims have gone through post-9/11 in the United States, it's Japanese-Americans. The parallels are striking.

I am a man of peace and denounce all forms of terrorism and injustice; it is simply outrageous for the U.S. authorities to suggest otherwise. I have dedicated my life to promoting peace and understanding throughout the world. 

Educating yourself and your family about the US civil rights movement can start with books and family discussions. But it shouldn't end there. You can learn much more about this critical struggle for equal rights by taking a cross-country civil rights tour.

Here are results of a survey conducted by Sound Vision about the state of Muslim civil rights in America after 9/11.