OCYD Rejects Hate in OC

Posted by admin on Mar 11, 2011 in News | 0 comments

Orange County Young Democrats Plan Public Forum and Rally

Santa Ana, Calif. – March 8, 2011 – Orange County Young Democrats is denouncing the violent verbal attack of Muslim families at a February 13th fundraiser held by the Islamic Circle of North America Relief. Anti-Islamic stereotyping, attacks on children, and a propensity for violence are some of the grievances raised by OCYD.

A video posted to Youtube by C.A.I.R., the Center for American-Islamic Relations, shows citizens and elected officials protesting the event broadly stereotyping Muslims as terrorists. This generalization is completely false, can lead to violence towards Muslims and needs to be stopped immediately.

Anger and verbal violence were also visible at the protest. After a series of anti-Islamic statements by Rep. Gary Miller (R 42), Rep. Ed Royce (R 40), and Villa Park City Councilwoman Deborah Pauly, the protest manifested itself into abusive verbal attacks on US citizens, women, even children who are clearly not affiliated with any type of terrorism.

Nick Anas, Chair of OCYD states, “There is no separating our elected officials’ participation in this rally and the ensuing violent verbal attacks on families and children. These officials should denounce intolerance and violence, not encourage it.”

Today, it has been exactly two months since the shooting of Rep.Gabrielle Giffords. In that context, OCYD is asking our Orange County community and it’s elected officials to immediately stop using violent rhetoric in our public discourse. We cannot ignore the fact that this type of hate speech can be the catalyst for instable individuals to commit violent actions.