Submitted by KH Hamilton
Muslim Journal
West Coast Correspondent
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – In debating whether or not I should write an article regarding the trauma experienced Jan. 6, 2021, with the breaching or rather “coup” held at the Nation’s Capitol, I decided to pass as there are countless narratives as to why. Those narratives include not only why but “how”? How would this coup be different if Black folks stormed the Capitol? President-Elect Joe Biden mentioned how his own grand-daughter compared the treatment of Black Lives Matter Protestors in June who were tear-gassed versus the majority White folks who support Donald Trump protestors/rioters recognized as Patriots who went on to attack the most sacred seat of federal government of the U.S. House and Senate.
We all know why, and it just didn’t happen in 2016 with Trump’s Administration. It began with the Tea Party, those who could not stomach the idea that President Barack Hussein Obama had won election in 2008. The notion that a Black man had become the Leader of the free world was unfathomable, and it led to the rise of the Ted Cruz’s, Marco Rubio’s, and Robert Aderholt’s, who gave Obama hell during his presidency. The hate we saw was bigger than Trump by far.
This lingering cancerous manifestation incited not only the deadly riots but led to Trump’s impeachment for a second time, which makes him the only President in history to be impeached twice – and if he is subsequently tried and convicted in the Senate he will be banned from ever running for the presidential or political office again.
To make a long story short, we are tired of hearing this rhetoric. We need to replace the people who continually stand before the Nation as elected officials, placing BLM in the same sentence as Antifa versus telling the truth on how Antifa corrupts peaceful Black Lives Matter protests nationwide.
Enough is enough. It is time for our community to groom our own. We need more Black Muslims in office. We need more African American Muslims in Congress and in the Senate. We need representation in/on all levels, local, state and nationwide, like Sis. Khadijah Abdur-Rahman who on Mon., Jan. 4, 2021, was sworn into office as a Fulton County Commissioner. Sis. Abdur-Rahman is the first Muslim woman elected to any office in Georgia, a historic win for us all!
Our community also needs Muslim organizations to step up and ensure that Black Muslim youth who apply aren’t just applicants, but they are accepted into these prestigious programs. Muslim Public Affairs Council has a program titled “Congressional Leadership Development Program” (CLDP). If you know any of any Muslims who are currently undergraduate (incoming juniors-seniors) or graduate students or doctoral applicants, including JD, PhD, EdD, or recent graduates within the last year who have a minimum 3.0 GPA with an interest in Politics, Law, Community Organization and/or Public Policy, do encourage them to apply.
For more information: https://cldp.org/program-details/. Deadline to apply is January 22, 2021.
An informational webinar will be held on January 17th at 6pm EST. For application questions, go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_01YFEWfcR3GzXFokhk12Yw
Muslim applicants of African descent are encouraged to email me directly for guidance at: katrinahasanhamilton@gmail.com
Let’s not ask any longer about the whys. We must act now as change comes from us!
