PrintTomorrow the New York branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations will hold a rally in Foley Square to protest recent controversy with the NYPD. Since November, the council has organized a series of anti-NYPD protests, but recently the group has focused on the screening of a film called The Third Jihad at an NYPD terrorism training course. Many Muslim activists have called the film racist and inflammatory and accused it of teaching police officers to suspect that all Muslims are terrorists.
Now, after a series of public relations blunders by the NYPD, many Muslim groups are calling for the resignation of Commissioner Ray Kelly for not being up-front about his role in screening the film. More than a decade after September 11, it seems there is still a fine line between what police call protection and prejudice.
A few weeks ago, a handful of Columbia students (and a dutiful Eye reporter) attended a CAIR rally themselves. While many of us are consumed with classes and cramming, these students have taken up an activist cause—marching and waving signs in protest of Islamophobia.
This week’s lead story looks at this small group of students who are confronting prejudice in our community. Zara Castany talks to students, activists, Harlem business owners, and a local imam about efforts to raise awareness in Morningside Heights and the city at large. Living on a liberal campus, we can easily forget that phobias and racism persist, even on our doorstep. Some students are taking the time to remind us.