This document outlines Cal MSA’s strategy for responding to political events, crises, or otherwise critical situations which may develop. These are only recommendations and are not requirements. This is not meant to be shared with anyone who is not an MSA board member.
Content warning: violence, Islamophobia, anti-Blackness, Shiaphobia
This document discusses previous MSA responses to distressing world events.
Description:
A major threat, event, or situation which directly affects our on-campus community or closely allied communities.
Respond if:
- Members of the MSA community, or closely allied communities, are directly targeted by the situation
Recommended Action:
- Board releases a public statement on social media platforms responding to the situation within 3-5 days of the instigating event, with the input of parties involved.
- Board evaluates the situation to determine if board members need to be involved in escalating or de-escalating the situation, such as by demanding action be taken by administration or by using community-oriented methods to intervene or address safety issues.
- Should attempts to address the situation fail, MSA may consider additional tactics, such as utilizing local, state, or national partners to raise awareness, reaching out to local news and press to increase pressure on administration and stakeholders to act, or holding protests in collaboration with on-campus allies.
Examples:
- Spring 2020:
- Palestinian students, as well as Black and/or Muslim allies faced assault and various physical threats, including a genocidal threat, by their peers on campus in response to an anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic bill introduced in the ASUC Senate.
- Although MSA as an organization was not under direct threat, its own community members and allies were directly harmed. Board released a statement in support of Bears for Palestine (BFP), and was involved in dealing with campus administration, ultimately leading to the creation of the Chancellor’s Committee on Muslim & Palestinian Life.
- If BFP’s demands were not met, a protest to occupy California Hall was planned, and CAIR’s SF Bay Area chapter was consulted about the situation. CAIR SFBA and Palestine Legal also sent out press releases to increase awareness and place pressure on administration.
- Fall 2019:
- Ann Coulter, a notorious white supremacist, was invited to speak on campus in an event expected to draw large crowds of white supremacists, as well as anti-fascist protestors. Because of similar experiences in the past, Board preemptively released a statement warning community members, and held alternative ‘Know Your Rights’ programming and co-sponsored a rally in collaboration with allies.
Description:
A major world event or tragedy which MSA feels compelled to respond to, either because it relates to the Muslim community, or because is is a worldwide movement that necessitates MSA’s response.
Respond if:
The Muslim community is targeted or involved, OR
It is clear the situation will turn into a national or worldwide movement and MSA and/or the Muslim community feels compelled to respond.
Recommended Action:
- MSA releases a public statement on social media platforms responding to the situation within 3-5 days of the instigating event, with the input of parties involved.
- If the Muslim community as a religious group is not the target:
- MSA identifies local community partners to work with to raise awareness for the issue.
- MSA board identifies 2-3 initiatives to commit to as an organization in support/condemnation of the situation
- If possible, show support to on-campus groups who are most impacted by the issue
- Invite a qualified and trusted khateeb to discuss the event during on-campus Friday prayers
- If the Muslim community as a religious group is the target:
- Work immediately with allies and campus partners to hold a remembrance, demonstration, or protest on-campus if necessitated
- MSA provides safety, academic, and mental health resources for community members dealing with trauma
- Identify relevant ways MSA as an organization can further show solidarity with the affected Muslim community
- Working with ASUC to write a resolution that can benefit the impacted community and create change on campus (i.e. call on administration to divest from Chinese companies in support of Uigher Muslims)
- Signing petitions
- Creating/contributing to fundraisers
Examples:
-
Summer 2020:
- Following George Floyd’s murder at the hands of Minneapolis police, MSA immediately released a statement in condemnation of police brutality and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement
- MSA joined the MSA Coalition for Black Lives Matter led by Brown University MSA, and pledged to match up to $1000 donations to racial justice causes
- MSA identified and amplified relevant causes using social media, and fulfilled demands of Black Muslim leaders in joining anti-racist Muslim community coalitions
- MSA board re-evaluated how the organization currently supports its Black Muslim community and committed to better addressing anti-Blackness within the community
-
Spring 2019:
- In response to the 2019 New Zealand terrorist attack in which a white supremacist murdered 51 Muslims during Friday prayers, MSA and sister organizations immediately held a communal prayer (duaa) the following day in remembrance of the martyrs, and provided mental health counselors after on-campus Jumu’ah prayers.
- A week later, MSA organized a more vocal rally in Lower Sproul during which Hatem Bazian delivered a speech, and an MSA board member read the names of the martyrs
- MSA co-sponsored a rally in San Francisco along with many Bay Area, state, and national organizations
Description:
A world event or tragedy which deeply affects minority communities within MSA.
Respond if:
The event seems to involve minority Muslim communities in some way, such as the Black Muslim community or Shia community.
Recommended Action:
- Release a statement condemning the incident and expressing solidarity with the affected community.
- Work with leaders representing the affected communities on campus to identify ways through which MSA can support and better serve the affected communities
- Invite a trusted and qualified khateeb to reflect on the event at on-campus Friday prayers
Previous examples:
- Summer 2020:
- While Board was transitioning for the new academic year, an anti-Shia terror attack took place in Afghanistan, leading to wider discussion about anti-Shia sentiment in Sunni-dominated spaces. Board did not adequately respond to the situation in a timely manner, but focused on better supporting the on-campus Shia community and improved outreach to Bay Area Shia communities going into the academic year.
- Summer 2019:
- The Sudanese government carried out massacres against civilian protestors toward the end of Ramadan. MSA amplified demonstrations held by local organizers. Because of the board transition, Ramadan and the summer break, however, further actions were not carried out.
Description:
A world event or tragedy which MSA feels compelled to acknowledge in some way, but not release a statement or organize a demonstration.
Respond if:
The event seems to involve the Muslim community in some way, or is a movement which necessitates some sort of response.
Recommended Action:
- Amplify voices belonging to the afflicted community, such as local or on-campus organizations through social media (such as by retweeting or sharing an Instagram story).
- Support an on-campus or local organization that is raising awareness by sending an MSA representative or co-sponsoring events.
Previous examples:
In solidarity with Lebanese protestors, MSA co-sponsored an on-campus demonstration led by the Lebanese Student Association and promoted the event on social media.
Description:
A community member asks us to address a political event or situation.
Respond if:
- Asked by a community member to address a political event or situation.
Recommended Action:
- Invite the community member for public comment at an MSA board meeting
- Ask the community member any related questions about the issue brought up
- Understand the cause brought up and see if it is important to the Muslim community at large or important communities within our community
- Follow through on any action items recommended by the community member or identify ways to acknowledge or support the cause
Previous examples:
A community member asked the MSA board to consider endorsing Proposition 16, a proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot which would reverse a ban on affirmative action in the state of California. MSA board voted later on in the meeting to endorse Proposition 16.
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