In times of crisis, men and women of conscience have a choice to make: to be silent, or to be heard. We live in such times, and these choices are upon us.

New York City is a city of immigrants; there's a statue in the harbor about that, and the shining ideals of how America is to welcome those new to our shores. That welcome, however, is somewhat curtailed during depression and war, and this is where your choice comes into play.

The Nation:

The Associated Press has been doing some good investigative reporting lately. On August 24, the AP broke the news that the CIA and the NYPD are combining forces to spy on Muslims in New York City. Since the CIA is prohibited by law to collect intelligence on American citizens, this is more than newsworthy. It’s probably unconstitutional, which explains why the NYPD has, according to the report, kept these activities secret.

This is no ordinary program, nor does it seem to be merely about sharing expertise.

According to the report, the NYPD dispatches “rakers,” the NYPD term, into a “human mapping program” to monitor the daily lives of Muslim Americans in the places where ordinary living transpires, such as bookstores, cafés, bars and nightclubs, without the hint of criminal wrongdoing. The police department also employs “mosque crawlers,” who scrutinize imams and their sermons, and have gathered intelligence on cab drivers and food cart vendors, jobs commonly associated with Muslim workers.

New Yorkers, understandably after the carnage of the 9/11 attacks, are wary of terrorism. This is right and fitting and proper. What is not right, however, is to use the broad brush of a fear of terrorism against an entire faith group. We deserve better than this, we are better than this, and above all, we are a nation of laws that obtain equally to all of us.

If you believe in this idea, of equality under the law, or perhaps even that hoary old concept of a presumption of innocence until guilt is proven in a court of law, please stand up, this Friday, and make your voice heard.

RALLY & FRIDAY PRAYER TO STOP NYPD/CIA REPRESSION OF MUSLIM COMMUNITIES

Friday, November 18, 2011
12 - 4 PM
Foley Square (Worth St between Lafayette & Centre St.), NYC

12pm: March from Occupied Wall St. (Zucotti Park)
1-2pm: Jummah Prayer
2-4pm: Speakers & Performances

Our Demands:
1. An immediate end to all racial, ethnic and religious profiling.
2. The dismantlement and disclosure of all warrant-less surveillance operations.
3. An independent commission to investigate all NYPD, CIA and FBI operations against the Muslim community.
4. The immediate protection of our right to freedom of worship, free speech and free association.
5. The equal protection, under the law, of Muslims and all people of New York.

'Equal protection'; what a concept.