News

First Ever Ramadan Iftar Held at San Francisco City Hall

Published

5 years ago

May 21, 2019

The San Francisco Muslim community held its first ever Ramadan Iftar at City Hall on Friday, May 10.

With over 350 people in attendance and City Hall glowing in green in honor of the holiday celebrated by 25,000 residents in the city, the evening was filled with families, friends, and faith and city leaders sharing uplifting messages of hope in these times that can be both difficult and precious.

Iftar is the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. Muslims break their fast at the time of the call to prayer for the evening.

The Arab Resource and Organizing Center supported the iftar with the help of the support of the Mayor’s Office, the hard work of SF Muslim community members, Chinatown Community Development Center, Boys and Girls Club, Teachers 4 Social Justice, SEIU 87, the Yemeni American Association, AROC and our 45 volunteers that evening.

Mayor London Breed addressed the community, acknowledging this historic moment and San Francisco’s longstanding commitment to social justice stating.

“We are tragically watching acts of violence fueled by islamophobia, bigotry, racism rise through the world,” she said. “And we are seeing people in positions of power use their platform not to speak out against these injustices but to stoke the flames of fear. But not tonight. Not tonight in San Francisco, and not ever in San Francisco. We are united.”

Imam Abu Qadir Al-Amin also spoke making the connection between commemorating the holy month of Ramadan to the social responsibility to better serving our communities.

“Many times when we are called to City Hall it is some crisis that we are responding to, some tragedy, something terrible that has happened, to be with brothers and sisters to stand for justice, equality,” he said.

”To be here celebrating and commemorating the month of Ramadan, we are celebrating not just hunger, pain, and going without food and water. More importantly we are studying and reflecting over the guidance of God that he has given to us so that we can better serve humanity and live a fuller life respecting all of God’s creation.”

Oakland Post

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Activism

S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System

Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.

Published

3 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Third Baptist Church.

By Carla Thomas

San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.

“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”

According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.

“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”

Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.

SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.

Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.

Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.

Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.

“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.