{"article":{"id":24498,"heading":"Muslim Public Affairs Council Conference Report","author":"John Kawakami","created":"2002-12-23 04:53:37","modified":"2002-12-23 04:53:37","last_modified":"Mon, 23 Dec 2002 11:53:37","article":"<p>The Muslim Public Affairs Council, a civil right group, held it's winter conference down in Long Beach today.  Around 1200 people attended to network, go to panel discussions, and get educated. <br><br> I didn't really attend, as I was hipped to this event the day before, and my buddy Vik and I decided to have lunch, and then check it out.  It was impressive, and being ignorant about issues facing their communities, I gladly took all the educational material offered.  The panel presentation on USA PATRIOT was rousing, and had several standing ovations. <br><br> The situation for Muslim Americans is dire these days, and it's good to know that they are standing up for their rights -- not only via rallies, but at all levels of politics.  Progressives need to follow their lead, and support them in this time of great need. <br><br> Amy Goodman was there taping the events so it might be on Democracy Now tomorrow or soon. (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.democracynow.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/www.democracynow.org<\/a>)  Ralph Cole of Justicevision is going to offer tapes of the events as well. (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.justicevision.org\" rel=\"nofollow\">http:\/\/www.justicevision.org<\/a>) <br><br> <\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"http:\/\/www.mpac.org","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"A very incomplete report about an interesting conference that took place today.","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2002\/12\/24498.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}