Tuesday night Keith Ellison celebrated his victory in Minnesota’s Fifth District congressional race before a crowd that chanted “Allahu Akbar.” Watch a video clip of it here. Next week Ellison celebrates with CAIR and a few other of its Democratic friends at CAIR’s annual banquet. Here is CAIR’s press release:
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FIRST MUSLIM IN CONGRESS TO SPEAK AT CAIR EVENT IN VA
Keith Ellison will join other elected officials at annual banquet
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/9/06) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced today that Keith Ellison, the first Muslim in Congress, will join other elected officials as a keynote speaker November 18th at the Washington-based civil rights group’s 12th Annual Banquet in Arlington, Va.
CAIR’s dinner, which in past years had sold-out crowds of more than 1,000, will feature addresses by Representative-elect Ellison (D-MN) and Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) and Albert Wynn (D-MD).
Other speakers at the event include a representative of the FBI and Amy Goodman of Democracy Now. Attendees will include many Muslim and interfaith leaders, diplomats from Muslim nations and American Muslim community activists.
To learn more about CAIR’s dinner, or to register online, go to:
https://www.cair.com/2006banquet/
Ellison won Tuesday’s election in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District by a more than two-to-one margin. He will be the first American Muslim to hold elected office at the national level.
“We are honored to have the first American Muslim elected to Congress offer his first major address during our annual banquet,” said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad.
CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
For the full story that neither the local nor the national press bothered to dig up about Ellison, check out “Keith Ellison for dummies” and “Louis Farrakhan’s first congressman.”
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