Islamic Center in Cedar Rapids Hosts Caucus Rally Saturday Night
Originally published by KCRG TV9
Islamic Center in Cedar Rapids Hosts Caucus Rally Saturday Night
Sunday, January 18, 2004, 5:26:37 AM
By KCRG-TV9 News Reporter Rachel Leigh – TV9 Cedar Rapids Newsroom
Local organizations are also making an effort to boost caucus participation. The Islamic Center in Cedar Rapids hosted a rally Saturday night with that in mind.
With ears listening, Arab Americans and others in the community heard a common message tonight. "Whatever you do get out and vote. Whatever you do participate. Don't let anyone ever tell you that your vote doesn't count."
And rally organizers want the Arab voice heard on caucus night. Rally organizer, Valorie Smith, told TV9, “To get the Arab Americans who are already active in politics to be more openly Arab American in their activities and to get those folks who have not been so active, more active in the process."
The 2000 census said there was 1200 Arab Americans in Cedar Rapids, but Smith believes that number is about 3500. The number one question as candidates come through the center . . . their opinion on peace in the middle east. Political activist, Joe Aossey, told TV9, “it's costing the u.s. a lot of lives. It's costing the rest of the world a lot of lives and look at what it's doing to our national debt."
It's an issue that affects everyone, not just the Islamic community. “You know the candidates are talking about Iraq in every debate and in every speech. There's a question about Palestine practices at every event and most of the time not coming from Arab Americans,” said Smith.
"It's very important that we have a new foreign policy for the Middle East which secures everybody,” said Aossey.
Both John Kerry and Dennis Kucinich have made visits to the Islamic Center, something that organizers say will play into Arab American support come Monday night.
Saturday night's rally had speeches on behalf of candidates Dick Gephardt, Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich.
Subscribe to this blog's feed