A number of prominent American Muslims in Washington metro area, called for robust participation in November 8 election, which they said is critical to the future of the United States as a great place for diverse people and talent from around the world.
Speaking during a rally in Annandale – that drew 36 diverse groups – the leaders said American Muslims have an important role to play in joining forces that suppot coexistence and advancement of all communities.
Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe addressed the gathering.
The event at the Richard J. Ernest Cultural Center in Virginia, attended by some 300 hundred or more ethic Americans includeing Nepalese, Pakistanis and other Muslims, Asians, Bangladeshis, and South Koreans expressed support for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
Tufail Ahmad, a senior Pakistani American leader said Muslims should come out in large numbers to vote and be active in the run up to the election to be counted as a political voice.
Ambassador Islam Siddiqui, a longtime Democrat and official in the Bill Clinton Administration, lauded the efforts of diverse groups to organize the rally to support Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine. He said that there were 300-350 people, divided ino six different caucuses for brainstorming sessions. “This election is so crucial that we must vote, you should vote and call your friends to vote and thirdly take time to volunteer,” he told Views and News.
A Pakistani American community leader Dr. Tariq Shahab said prolitical participation begins with making sure that every eligible voter is registered.
He also called for making use of early voting to ensure the voters are counted.
“This is an opportunity for us to spread awareness about the importance of voting in the election and through it make ourselves a vibrant political player,” he told Views and News expressing his views.
Ms. Phyllis J. Randall, the first colored woman to assume the position of Chair Board of Advisers in Loudon County called the rally a great gathering of all religions, colors and nationalities, where everyone got together to talk about how it is important to elect Hillary and Kane.
She criticized Clinton’s rival Donald Trump.
“This is a great country 32 days to elections, and we are going to do this!”
She highlighted how women’s vote will matter in this election.
The women of the area cannot waste the 2016 opportunity and “women’s vote will control this election with 51% of population, we are with her, she is with us let her put in the office.”
Delegate Vivian Watts from Virginia Legislature admired the diversity gathering said that this is a wonderful demonstration of support.
“I see so many leaders, wonderful cultural ethnic groups from Northern Virginia, this is the leadership, this is the drive to make sure that America indeed lives to its promise. Women’s votes will be key part in the elections both of the history of
Hillary being the first and more qualified than any as I an elected official well aware of our challenge.”
She said that when she was elected to Virginia Legislature for Springfield and Annandale but was surprised to see that that there has been only 21 women who had ever served since women got the right to vote in 1920’s.
“I absolutely respect the kind of tough battle Hillary Clinton has waged all of her life to bring forth the issues that matter,” she added
