OKLAHOMA CITY — The importance of engaging with elected leaders in an era of increased polarization came to the forefront time and time again as Muslim Oklahomans gathered in Oklahoma City on Monday for an annual advocacy event.
More than 100 people registered for the ninth annual “Muslim Day at the Capitol” hosted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Oklahoma Chapter. Several organizers said the crowd was smaller than in previous years because of spring break.
Imad Enchassi, senior imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, said the event typically draws a large contingent of students, teachers and some parents from Mercy School, an Islamic school in northwest Oklahoma City, and a similar school in Tulsa, but the schools were out for break.
Still, there were plenty of youths and young adults among the crowd that gathered on the second-floor rotunda and a meeting space for brief opening remarks, break-out sessions and lunch. Former U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn gave the keynote speech, and the group gathered for prayer after the last session.
People are also reading…
Masood Abdul-Haqq, CAIR-OK’s board chairman, encouraged the crowd to take seriously the event’s theme, “Being Civically Courageous.”
“This place is literally yours,” he said. “We’re literally in the building that everybody in here is here to serve you. Your tax dollars literally pay for this place, so never let somebody tell you that you don’t belong, and never allow anyone make you feel other than.”
Adam Soltani, CAIR-OK executive director, emphasized the prevailing message of the day.
He reminded the group that a former Republican state representative, John Bennett, called him and Enchassi “terrorists” when they showed up for a hearing on an interim study on radical Islam, Shariah law, the Muslim Brotherhood and the radicalization process held several years ago at the state Capitol. Soltani said he and Enchassi sat in “silent protest” to the proceedings, and the important takeaway was that they kept showing up at the Capitol to discuss key issues despite such incidents.
“Things will only be good when we choose to be engaged and when we keep pushing for change,” he said.
Meanwhile, the absence of protesters was noticed.
“It’s happily boring,” Jennifer Hund, director of CAIR-OK’s Resource Center for Afghan Refugees, said in reference to the lack of anti-Islam demonstrations.
In previous years, particularly the first four or five, demonstrators stood outside the Capitol greeting Muslims with anti-Islam signs and rhetoric as they walked into the building. Starting with the first “Muslim Day at the Capitol,” spiritual leaders and individuals from other faith traditions created what they described as an “interfaith corridor of support” to welcome Muslims with positive greetings.
On Monday, Hund and other interfaith supporters stood near the Capitol’s south entrance once again to welcome Muslims.
Marshall Gimpel, congregational president of First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, said the lack of protesters was a sign of the success of the “corridor of support.”
“We’re just out here showing support for our fellow residents and citizens of Oklahoma City, showing that this is a place that can be welcoming and that they, like any other resident or citizen here, have a perfect right to visit with their representatives, make their feelings known,” he said. “Hopefully, their representatives will want to see them, because they are their constituents.”
Throwback Tulsa: See images from the 2017 Muslim Day at the Capitol
muslim day
Muslims gather at the Oklahoma State Capitol for prayer in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Muslims, supporters and observers gather at the Oklahoma State Capitol for prayer in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Wes Salous (right) praises all of the supporters surrounding him as he makes his way up to the capitol for the Muslims third annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Women walk into the state capitol for the Muslims annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Oklahoma Police watch over attendees of the Muslims annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Muslims and others join in the capitol for the third annual Muslims day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

People show support of the Muslim community as Muslims hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Megan Howell helps her three-year-old son Wyatt Howell with a sign showing support of the Muslim community as they hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Jeanne Pratt of Oklahoma City holds a sign in support of Muslims during Muslims third annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Muslims begin prayer as they hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Rawan Al-Arab Bryant takes a photo before the prayers begin as Muslims hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Jeanne Pratt of Oklahoma City (right) sits next to friend, Traci Hill, as they show their support for Muslims during Muslims third annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Jeanne Pratt of Oklahoma City holds a sign in support of Muslims during Muslims third annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Tehmina Cheema (right) of Edmond kneels after prayer at the capitol during Muslims third annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Mikael Bryant gives the opening prayer during Muslims third annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Yalmaz Husain of Edmond waves as he’s welcomed to the capitol by supporters as Muslims hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

A group of Muslim women make their way into the capitol through a sea of applause during Muslims third annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Mikael Bryant and his wife Rawan Al-Arab Bryant are applauded as they walk hand in hand towards the state capitol as Muslims hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Protestor Jim Gilles of Indiana holds a large black sign and yells as Muslims make their way into the capitol during the third annual Muslims day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Protestors sit outside the Oklahoma State Capitol as Muslims make their way into the capitol during the third annual Muslims day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Wes Salous (from right), Yousef Shafik, Ian Fields and Sam Salus all kneel in prayer as Muslims hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Students from the Mercy School Institute in Edmond take photos as they sit outside the state Capitol during Muslims annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Students from the Mercy School Institute in Edmond sit outside the state Capitol after Muslims held their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Wes Salous (from right), Yousef Shafik, Ian Fields and Sam Salus all kneel in prayer Thursday as Muslims hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Yousef Shafik of Oklahoma City places his forehead to a mat spread across the floor of the of the Oklahoma State Capitol in prayer as Muslims hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Yousef Shafik of Oklahoma City places his forehead to a mat spread across the floor of the of the Oklahoma State Capitol in prayer as Muslims hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Imad Enchassi (center) leads a group of Muslims gathered at the Oklahoma State Capitol in prayer, in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Imad Enchassi (center) leads a group of Muslims gathered at the Oklahoma State Capitol in prayer, in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Imam Imad Enchassi leads a group of Muslims in prayer at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday.Tulsa World File
muslim day

Imad Enchassi leads a group of Muslims gathered Thursday at the Oklahoma State Capitol in prayer, in Oklahoma City. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Zoha Queens is cheered on as she walks up to the Oklahoma State Capitol as Muslims hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Muslims and non Muslims gather in the state capitol for the third annual Muslims day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Nathaniel Batchelder of Oklahoma City holds up a “Welcome Muslims” sign as Muslims of Oklahoma hold their annual day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City on Thursday. Tulsa World File
muslim day

A group of Muslim students from Mercy School Institute in Edmond walk into the capitol surrounded by a sea of supporters for the third annual Muslims day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

Fahad Khan of Edmond (center) shakes hands with passerby’s and supporters as he makes his way to the capitol he annual Muslims day at the Capitol in Oklahoma City Thursday March 2, 2017. Tulsa World File
muslim day

A group of Muslim students from Mercy School Institute in Edmond, including Sidra Jawaid (center), walk into the Capitol surrounded by supporters during the third annual Muslim Day on Thursday. Tulsa World File
Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now
Check out our latest digital-only offer and subscribe now: Tulsaworld.com/subscribe