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December 3, 2024 The last year has been tough going for us at Muslims for Progressive Values. It was a year that genuinely challenged our values, demanding that we remain principled in our commitment to human rights and non-violence, especially during the most trying of times. By now, you are probably inundated with Giving Tuesday appeals, especially from large organizations that are gearing up to fight against the onslaught of oppression, fascist ideology, and human rights violations that we are anticipating will only increase over the next few years. However, what is often omitted within these various appeals is the role that small organizations, like MPV, have in providing the diverse voices needed to legitimize a coalition. Since our founding nearly 20 years ago, we have become the go-to Muslim organization in the United States to contribute to amicus briefs, to participate in coalition building, to advocate state and national legislatures on a variety of human rights issues like the separation of religion and state and reproductive justice, and to speak at large human rights conferences, providing our niche perspective that has become ever more important in the last decade. We are always there to support our allies, big or small, because we recognize that as a small, marginalized minority group in America, it is important that we as Muslims remain steadfast in the Quranic command to show up for others in need. When a young and untested Muslim script writer and director needed support for a short film with a message of inclusivity, MPV provided the necessary funds to help the film get produced. When a group of Jewish women filed a lawsuit in Florida to protect their religious freedom to reproductive rights, MPV provided them the support of a Muslim voice in an amicus brief. When conservative Muslims partnered with the Christian Right to protest the implementation of an inclusive public school curriculum in Maryland, the Chair of the Montgomery County City Council called MPV for advice and strategies.
We know there are many good causes for you to donate to this year, especially considering the extreme humanitarian needs of Gazans. Everyday I see videos of children and families starved, or maimed and killed by American bombs. It’s heartbreaking violence that all American taxpayers have the responsibility to counteract through donations to organizations like PCRF and UNRWA. But it is also possible to make charitable donations to multiple causes, regardless of the size of the donation or the manifestation of your support. Indeed, holding multiple causes in your heart is more important than ever considering the pervasive feeling of scarcity that has been imposed on us in an attempt to limit our individual power to promote empathy, compassion, and justice. I remind you of your individual power because I am not one to play on fear, choosing instead to bank on the positive impact that we each have the power to manifest. At MPV, we can only do so with your support. As we close out this year, I hope you will consider promoting that positive change by donating generously to MPV.
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