Podcast appearances and mentions of zahra billoo

Mere days aways from Election Day 2024, Parvez and Omar are rejoined by Civil Rights Attorney and Activist Zahra Billoo to discuss the Muslim vote and the 2024 Presidential Election. Are Muslims simply approaching who to vote for with the "lesser of two evils" calculus? Is there a long game and what are the short term consequences of playing the long game? All this and more for the show's special Election 2024 episode!     About Zahra Billoo Zahra Billoo serves as the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) office, the oldest CAIR chapter office. Since joining in 2009, Zahra has led the organization through a period of six-fold growth. Today, she manages one of the largest CAIR offices in the country with a team of civil rights and social justice advocates dedicated to the empowerment of American Muslims through legal services, legislative advocacy, and community organizing. Under Zahra's leadership, CAIR-SFBA has filed lawsuits against the United States Department of Justice, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Southwest Airlines, representing American Muslims facing discriminatory treatment. CAIR-SFBA has also significantly expanded its capabilities to provide know-your-rights sessions on a nearly weekly basis to mosques and community members in the San Francisco Bay Area, while also providing direct legal representation to Bay Area residents facing numerous civil rights violations, including FBI interviews, employment discrimination, airport harassment, school bullying, and hate crimes. Zahra's advocacy has included media appearances in local and national media, including MSNBC, NPR, the San Francisco Chronicle, and even FOX News. Among her awards, she received the 2017 Human Rights Award from the Society of American Law Teachers and the 2018 Community Builder Award from People Acting in Community Together (PACT). She was also listed by the San Jose Mercury News as a “Woman to Watch” in March 2017 for Women's History Month, as well as by the Chronicle of Philanthropy in their January 2018 cover story on millennials who lead. She is currently a fellow with Levi Strauss Foundation Pioneers in Justice, a senior fellow with the American Leadership Forum's Silicon Valley Chapter and an alumna of Rockwood's Fellowship for a New California, LeaderSpring's Executive Directors Fellowship, and USC's American Muslim Civil Leadership Institute. Zahra earned her undergraduate degrees from the California State University, Long Beach, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings. She is licensed to practice law in California.    

In the first half of this episode, Marcy Winograd shares a CODEPINK Congress program featuring John Kiriakou, former CIA torture whistleblower, and Zahra Billoo, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations-San Francisco/Bay Area Chapter. During the second half of the program, Marcy speaks with Norman Solomon, author of War Made Invisible; How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine, a book published before October 7th. Solomon has updated the paperback edition to include Afterward: The Gaza War, a beat-by-beat account of how a negligent corporate media enabled President Biden's complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza. Learn more: "The Slide into Authoritarianism" by John Kiriakou. Consortium News.8/27/24https://consortiumnews.com/2024/08/27/john-kiriakou-the-slide-into-authoritarianism/CODEPINK Congress: "Authoritarianism at Home and Abroad." Host Marcy Winograd. Guests John Kiriakou and Zahra Billoo. 9/3/24https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwVYn2WJy3kUS universities spent the summer strategizing to suppress student activism. Here is their plan by Carrie Zaremba. Mondoweiss. 9/2/2https://mondoweiss.net/2024/09/u-s-universities-spent-the-summer-strategizing-to-suppress-student-activism-here-is-their-plan/War Made Invisible; How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine by Norman Solomon, with Afterward: The Gaza War (paperback edition)https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/war-made-invisible-norman-solomon/1141772212;jsessionid=6A49181CF105503620265F1CA4BA4B9D.prodny_store02-atgap12?ean=9781620979167"Holding the Press and White House Accountable. Solomon's Afterward on the Gaza War." Marcy Winograd's review.CODEPINK's blog: Pink Tank. Sept. 4, 2024https://www.codepink.org/solomonbookreview

0:08 — Zahra Billoo serves as the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) office. Molly Sampson, BUSD parent. 0:33 — Jack Poulson is an independent journalist writing about the intersection of technology and the military. He is also the Executive Director of Tech Inquiry, a tech accountability non-profit organization. The post Department of Education Will Investigate Berkeley Unified District for Anti-Palestinian, Anti-Arab and Islamophobic Discrimination; Plus, New Documents Reveal Latest Israeli Plan to Control Gaza War Narrative in the United States appeared first on KPFA.

On this week's Palestine Post, we speak with James Smith who recently returned to London following two months of performing emergency medical care in Gaza. We speak with him alongside Zahra Billoo, the Executive Director of the Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). CAIR Press release calling on Biden Admin to condemn torture of Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-on-biden-admin-to-condemn-torture-of-palestinian-detainees-by-israeli-forces/ —- Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post Palestine Post: Doctor Returns from Gaza, Plus, Demands for Biden Admin to Condemn Torture of Palestinian Prisoners appeared first on KPFA.

For the show's 150th episode Parvez & Omar are joined by the second guest ever to appear on the podcast, Zahra Billoo , Civil rights Attorney and Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA). Zahra brings her years of tireless Civil Rights work and activism to bear as she discusses the recent protests and encampments taking place across college campuses placing them within the broader Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and discussing their overall goals and objectives. The conversation also tackles the criticisms that such protests and encampments have garnered from voices outside of and within the Muslim community, as well as certain initiatives and organizations that some argue seek to normalize relations with the State of Israel and Zionism. About Zahra Billoo Zahra Billoo serves as the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) office, the oldest CAIR chapter office. Since joining in 2009, Zahra has led the organization through a period of six-fold growth. Today, she manages one of the largest CAIR offices in the country with a team of civil rights and social justice advocates dedicated to the empowerment of American Muslims through legal services, legislative advocacy, and community organizing. Under Zahra's leadership, CAIR-SFBA has filed lawsuits against the United States Department of Justice, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Southwest Airlines, representing American Muslims facing discriminatory treatment. CAIR-SFBA has also significantly expanded its capabilities to provide know-your-rights sessions on a nearly weekly basis to mosques and community members in the San Francisco Bay Area, while also providing direct legal representation to Bay Area residents facing numerous civil rights violations, including FBI interviews, employment discrimination, airport harassment, school bullying, and hate crimes. Zahra's advocacy has included media appearances in local and national media, including MSNBC, NPR, the San Francisco Chronicle, and even FOX News. Among her awards, she received the 2017 Human Rights Award from the Society of American Law Teachers and the 2018 Community Builder Award from People Acting in Community Together (PACT). She was also listed by the San Jose Mercury News as a “Woman to Watch” in March 2017 for Women's History Month, as well as by the Chronicle of Philanthropy in their January 2018 cover story on millennials who lead. She is currently a fellow with Levi Strauss Foundation Pioneers in Justice, a senior fellow with the American Leadership Forum's Silicon Valley Chapter and an alumna of Rockwood's Fellowship for a New California, LeaderSpring's Executive Directors Fellowship, and USC's American Muslim Civil Leadership Institute. Zahra earned her undergraduate degrees from the California State University, Long Beach, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings. She is licensed to practice law in California.    

It has been almost ten weeks since Israel launched its massive attacks on Palestine. Over the weekend, the Ministry of Health announced that the death toll has amassed to at least 19,088, with over 54,450 individuals wounded. We continue our ongoing coverage in conversation with Khury Petersen-Smith, Michael Ratner Middle East Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he researches US empire, borders, and migration. We are also joined by Zahra Billoo,  Executive Director of the Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). — Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post Palestine Post: Latest on Palestine w/ Khury Peterson-Smith and Zahra Billoo appeared first on KPFA.

There have been constant demonstrations outside the offices of local members of Congress, demanding that they join the call for a ceasefire. The Oakland City Council approved a resolution to that effect at a raucous and contentious meeting last week, and now the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is poised to take up something similar. For more on all this, KCBS Radio's Patti Reising, Bret Burkhart, and Doug Sovern spoke with Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations.   

Zahra Billoo serves as the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) office, the oldest CAIR chapter office. Zahra earned her undergraduate degrees from the California State University, Long Beach, and her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings. She is licensed to practice law in California. https://ca.cair.com/sfba

Mainstream media's one-sided narrative is doing little more than fueling a unfolding genocide in Gaza. As one of our guests today told us last week – it hasn't happened yet – and it is our voices, bodies and actions that can help stop it. To that end, we are joined by Khury Petersen-Smith, Michael Ratner Middle East Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies, where he researches U.S. empire, borders, and migration. We are also joined by Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). — Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on socials @LawAndDis: https://twitter.com/LawAndDis; https://www.instagram.com/lawanddis/ The post Law & Disorder's Palestine Post w/ Khury Peterson-Smith and Zahra Billoo appeared first on KPFA.

In the wake of recent Antisemitic comments by Zahra Billoo and CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Imam Abdullah Antepli (Duke University, Co-Director of Hartman’s Muslim Leadership Initiative) offers the Jewish community words of consolation and a path to build more honest and resilient relationships between Jews and Muslims in America. In a frank conversation with Yehuda Kurtzer, Imam Antepli shares a unique perspective on the impact of political partisanship on religious communities, moral leadership, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the critical importance of interfaith dialogue in creating a more just world. Yehuda's recent article on the subject for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency can be read here.

Zahra Billoo is a civil rights lawyer, activist and Executive Director of CAIR-SFBA, where she leads a team dedicated to the empowerment of American Muslims through legal services, legislative advocacy, and community organizing. We had a great time talking to her about waking up to a new world twenty years ago, how her faith forms the backbone of her advocacy, and why we have to stand against injustice even when we're not its targets. (Many mics were dropped.)Follow us on Twitter. Email us at musliminplainsight@gmail.com. Support the show.Hosts and Producers: Anisa Khalifa and Khadija KhalilEditor: Khadija KhalilConsulting Producer: Paroma Chakravarty

In 2013, the One Nation Bay Area Project—a collaborative funded by Silicon Valley Community Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, Marin Community Foundation and Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy—released a benchmark report called The Bay Area Muslim Study. In partnership with the One Nation Foundation and research support from The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, the study came after a two-year effort created to support American Muslims and non-Muslim allies working to enhance civic engagement in the Bay Area Muslim Community and to strengthen the relationships between American-Muslims and non-Muslim community partners. In this episode, SVCF Director of Community-Building Mauricio speaks with Zahra Billoo, SVCF Community Advisory Council member and Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, to reflect on the changes in the Bay Area American-Muslim community since the study was published, and the most pressing issues we face today. In SVCF’s Philanthropy Now podcast series, we explore trends in the world of philanthropy, social impact initiatives in Silicon Valley and beyond, and we look at how SVCF promotes innovative philanthropic solutions to challenging problems. What you will learn: Zahra’s personal journey to becoming a civil rights leader The inception of the Bay Area Muslim Study is and what has changed in the last decade The most pressing issues in the American-Muslim community today and how CAIR addresses these challenges Recommendations for foundations, philanthropists, and American-Muslim nonprofit leaders Resources from this episode: Zahra Billoo, Executive Director, Council on American-Islamic Relations of the SF Bay Area Mauricio Palma, Director of Community-Building, SVCF The Bay Area Muslim Study: Establishing Identity and Community, the OneNation Bay Area Project 2013 benchmark report Ground Breaking Study on Bay Area Muslim Community, highlights from Northern California Grantmakers Learn more about SVCF’s Community Advisory Council Did you enjoy the SVCF Philanthropy Now podcast? Never miss an episode by subscribing in iTunes, Stitcher or RSS.

I interviewed Zahra for this episode where we speak about her experiences trying to find a partner and tells us what it's like to weed through a sea of matches. Zahra Billoo serves as the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) office, the oldest and one of the largest CAIR chapter offices. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/unfazedwithtazzyphe/support

Islam and Activism and how the two correlate has sparked many questions especially in recent years.Are Muslims allowed to be activists? And if so, what do we fight against? Can we fight injustices faced by non-Muslims? What about Muslim women?Can they even be activists?These questions (and some of their answers) have often been a barrier to Muslims partaking in acts that may be an obligation to us. Especially with Muslim women where there is already so much discussion on how much we should even take part in any kind of publicity.But why is Activism so important? Not just for our personal growth, but our faith as well.On this week's episode, I sat down with the director of the San-Francisco Bay Area Chapter of  CAIR [Council on American Islamic Relations] — Zahra Billoo to discuss how she got into Activism and why it was such a big part of life AND her Deen and how it helped to not only uplift her spirit but also her community.I can't wait for you to tune in and gain a fresh perspective and possibly be prompted to start your campaign against injustice even if it's just in your little circle!Hit play now!

Jess and Jamal discuss Ramadan 2020 and how to practice faith in times of Covid-19, joined by the Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA) office. They also interview political activist and university professor Rania Masri, PhD, who comments on the Lebanese government’s handling of the pandemic in a country that hosts approximately 1.5 million refugees.

On tonight's show, we will be talking with Zahra Billoo around the viral spread of racism surrounding the COVID 19 pandemic. Then, we'll speak with Kashmiri researcher, Ifat Gazia about the current conditions surrounding the pandemic in Kashmir, the most densely militarized land on earth. Later on the show, we bring you some feminist musical treats in honor of women's herstory month this month of March via guest producer Zuha Khan The post COVID19 During A Political Crises; Women's Month Music Special appeared first on KPFA.

In this episode of the Oaktree Institute Podcast, we are joined by Zahra Billoo. Zahra serves as the Executive Director of CAIR-SFBA. She manages one of the largest CAIR offices in the country with a team of civil rights and social justice advocates dedicated to the empowerment of American Muslims through legal services, legislative advocacy, and community organizing. Zahra’s advocacy has included media appearances in local and national media, including MSNBC, NPR, the San Francisco Chronicle, and even FOX News. We are excited to have Zahra on the podcast to share her story and valuable leadership insights with us. Oaktree Institute is a nonprofit organization focused on leadership and organizational development in the Muslim community. Our mission is to develop value-driven, action-focused, and result-oriented leaders. We train community leaders, activists, and volunteers working in nonprofit organizations. If you need help with your organization, please email us at requests@oaktreeinstitute.org or schedule a call with us at bitly.com/otimeeting Additional links and contact information: Connect With Oaktree Institute: linktr.ee/oaktreeinstitute Connect With Rami Kawas: linktr.ee/ramikawas Connect With Zahra Billoo: zahrabilloo.com Connect With CAIR: cair.com Subscribe to the podcast for more guest interviews like this one. We release new episodes every Wednesday! JazakAllah Khair for listening! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/oaktreepodcast/message

0:08 – The US escalation on Iran and the killing of a commander happened through a targeted airstrike near the Baghdad airport, in Iraq. Days later, the Iraqi Parliament voted to expel US troops from Iraq, and to “end the presence of any foreign troops on Iraqi soil.” That means both US and Iran, and it may signify a growing anti-imperialist movement. Raed Jarrar is an Iraqi-born human rights activist and writer based in Washington, D.C. His most recent piece in Truthout is titled “Iraq's Vote to Kick Out U.S. Troops Reflects Growing Anti-Imperialist Movement.“ 0:34 – Kayla Moore was killed by Berkeley Police in 2013. The officers were never charged, and the family sued. In 2018, a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove discrimination. But now Moore family is headed back to court of appeals on Jan 9 for oral arguments. The family wants the City of Berkeley to overhaul it's mental health response policies, and provide care instead of police. Maria Moore is the sister of Kayla Moore, who was killed by Berkeley Police in 2013, and a mental health reform advocate. Adante Pointer is an attorney with John Burris Law, and legal council for the Moore family. 1:08 – Shortly after President Trump ordered the targeted assassination of an Iranian commander via an airstrike outside the airport in Baghdad Iraq, escalating major tensions with Iran, the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol began detaining and questioning Iranians and Iranian-Americans at the border. Some were held and questioned for hours. The agency has denied the reports. But advocacy groups have activated legal support and are loudly denouncing the detentions and violation of civil rights. Zahra Billoo  is an attorney and the Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (CAIR-SFBA). 1:34 – Series Premiere: Unmasking America Shaun Assaels is a New York Times best-selling author, magazine writer and investigative journalist, as well as a sometime television correspondent. He can be seen in a documentary based on his latest book, The Murder of Sonny Liston, now on Showtime. His latest piece in Politico is The Massacre That Spawned the Alt-Right. The post Iraq's vote to expel US troops reflects a growing anti-imperialist movement; Plus: Family of Kayla Moore killed by Berkeley Police goes back to court this week, urges overhaul of Berkeley mental health response appeared first on KPFA.

TOP STORIES: Muslim activist and lawyer Zahra Billoo voted off Women's March board after anti-Semitic tweets surfaced; Justin Trudeau is caught in "brown-face" photo from 2001; Lewandowski forced to rehash weak "obstruction" claim in first "impeachment hearing"; Union Seminary defends its students confessing their sins to plants. INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS: Can evidence every be examined "objectively?" FLIP PHONE: What did YOU get out of the Creationism to Evolution 180 (episode 26)?WOKE OF THE WEEK: Small-time comedian Shane Gillis booted from SNL over racially derogatory comments made on his podcast.DEBUNKING: I explain where I went wrong in a controversial, incorrect piece I wrote last week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Websites mentioned in the interview: www.cair.com/ www.palestinelegalsupport.org/ Holyland Foundation www.freedomtogive.com/ Rasmea Odeh www.facebook.com/pages/Drop-The-Charges-Against-Rasmea-Now/678264732186412?fref=ts Irvine 11 www.irvine11.com You can support this podcast by subscribing to Katie's patreon, at http://patreon.com/katiemiranda or by visiting Katie's online jewelry and art store at http://www.katiemiranda.com . Palbox is a nonprofit subscription box supporting Palestinian farmers, artisans and the international solidarity movement. you can subscribe at http://www.palbox.org .

If you don't have a border you don't have a country. But how can Democrats respond to Trump- who is proud of the pictures of kids in cages- so he doesn't win on the issues of immigration? Should we fine employers who hire the undocumented? And what about the illegal Canadians? ~~~ Thom welcomes Zahra Billoo from San Fran's Council on Islamic American Relations for her perspective on the discussion around immigration and refugees. ~~~ Thom says Democrats need to make an argument based on labor to reach working class Americans on immigration. If Democrats can't do that soon it will bite us in the butt very quickly. Is it time to start arresting employers? Connie in Nevada remembers the way Reagan's amnesty and immigration policies destroyed the construction unions, and consequently destroyed the lives of the men and women put out of work including her husband. ~~~ Thom reconnects with an old friend- activist Nina Turner, 'hell-raising humanitarian' and national co-chair for Bernie Sander's team. ~~~ The well-connected former Congressman Bob Ney shares the real stories behind the headlines- from Trump's border policies to Iran's tit-for-tat.

It's finally here! The first episode of Rockwood's new podcast, with alum and CAIR SF-BA Executive Director Zahra Billoo. Zahra dropped by our offices to talk about joy, family, privilege, music, practicing resilience, and much, much more. Subscribe to receive emails from Rockwood and never miss an episode: https://rockwoodleadership.org/subscribe ----more---- EPISODE TRANSCRIPT joi foley: Hi, and welcome to the very first episode of Rockwood's Leading From The Inside Out podcast. My name is joi foley. I'm Rockwood's senior marketing and communications manager. joi foley: Before we get to our interview with alum Zahra Billoo, we have just a few notes about the podcast. This is Rockwood's first-ever podcast, and we are so excited to be sharing leadership with new audiences in this new medium but, as with anything new, we do have a bit of a learning curve. There are some technical issues, so we hope that you can be understanding and patient with us as we work through some of that. I'll be your host for these first few episodes, and then the whole staff of Rockwood will be sharing hosting duties, including our CEO, Darlene Nipper. We will also be experimenting with different types of content alongside the alum interviews, so if there's something you'd like Rockwood to cover in this podcast, just let us know. With that, here's our show. joi foley: Our guest for today's episode is alum Zahra Billoo. Zahra is executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area office, the oldest and one of the largest CAIR chapter offices. Under Zahra's leadership, CAIR-SFBA has filed lawsuits against the United States Department of Justice, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Southwest Airlines representing American Muslims facing discriminatory treatment. CAIR-SFBA has also significantly expanded its capabilities to provide know-your-rights sessions on a nearly weekly basis to mosques and community members in the San Francisco Bay Area while also providing direct legal representation to Bay Area residents facing numerous civil rights violations. joi foley: Zahra has appeared on MSNBC, NPR, and the San Francisco Chronicle, and even on Fox News. She was a speaker at the historic Women's March in Washington, DC in January 2017. Zahra received the 2017 Human Rights Award from the Society of American Law Teachers and was featured in the January 2018 Chronicle of Philanthropy cover story on how millennials lead. Outside of her work with CAIR, Zahra bakes birthday cakes for foster children through Cake4Kids and is a coordinator for Project Feed, a monthly homeless feeding effort in downtown San Francisco. Zahra is currently in Rockwood's Lead Now California Fellowship, but she's been through a few fellowships and programs with us. When I spoke with Zahra in February at our office in Oakland, our conversation started there. joi foley: Okay, so the first question is you've been through two Rockwood Fellowships, but you've been total eight sessions, we counted, so why do you keep returning to Rockwood? Zahra Billoo: I was initially introduced to Rockwood by other leaders who said, “Look, we see the path that you're going down, and we know that you're going to need help to sustain yourself and the work that you're doing in the long run. Why don't you check out Rockwood?” That was my first introduction to The Art of Leadership. After that, I was invited to join a Fellowship, and what I appreciated about the opportunity to do a Fellowship was that it wasn't just training. It was training plus community, and so the relationships, the friendships that I made in my participation during Fellowship for a New California are still people I rely on, I call, and that I'm excited to see when I'm at events and out doing this work. Zahra Billoo: Fast-forward several years, and we have the 2016 election. It's not like civil rights and human rights weren't already challenging before the 2016 election, but the problems became so much more exaggerated. So much of the deep-rooted racism and white supremacy in our country was unveiled, and the pace at which many of us that were already in the work had to change to was just unprecedented. When the opportunity to do another Fellowship and meet new people doing this work in this moment and relearn some of the Rockwood practices came about, I couldn't say no. Just a couple of days ago when I was thinking through how to process a trigger, I was so grateful for all of the training that I've done with Rockwood now. joi foley: Do you have any favorite memories of any of your Rockwood experiences or moments that were really important to you? Zahra Billoo: I remember one of the nights of the Fellowship parties where there was a particular one in the second, in the Lead Now Fellowship, where everybody just let loose. Whether people were drinking or not, and I don't drink, they were having a good time. They were talking. They were in community. It was interesting because I remember having a conversation with someone about life while dating as a single Muslim woman and also having a conversation with someone about gender pay equity and then breaking a sweat on the dance floor. That combination of experiences in one night, for me, was so much the epitome of the family that Rockwood helps cultivate where we can talk about work and life and have fun. joi foley: Why were you born for this time? Zahra Billoo: I sometimes contemplate why I was born with as much privilege as I was born with. I didn't necessarily earn the rights that I have. They are a function of where I was born, who I was born to, and those circumstances. I'm a US citizen who speaks English fluently and has a passport so can't be sent anywhere I don't want to go. I've got a voice that sometimes won't shut up and a roof over my head as well as incredibly supportive family. When I think of why I was born for this moment, for me, it's about putting all of those privileges to work. I didn't earn them, and so the best that I can do is ensure that I don't act like they are mine exclusively but rather that they are tools and an opportunity for service, and now is when we need it. joi foley: What's in your heart? Zahra Billoo: I think what my heart is trying to figure out is how does one find happiness, and peace, and contentment, and companionship in this moment where there's literally a rapid-fire every day. Maybe they existed before, but it's also the onslaught of social media and the 20-minute news cycle that has us going a mile a minute, and so what does our work look like? What do our lives look like in 2030 and in 2040 which, right now, feels frightening to even contemplate when many of us are dreading 2020? joi foley: Yeah. Who is leading today that you'd love to work with? Zahra Billoo: One of the blessings of the 2016 election, for me, has really been to develop new friendships in movement spaces and also to watch and support as leadership emerges in ways that we didn't expect. If I were to think of individuals that I already know and love and want to deepen my work with, I think of so many of the women in movement spaces, Manar Waheed at ACLU, Linda Sarsour with Women's March, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar in Congress, Marielena at NILC, and so many other bold, fierce women who I'm in awe of because they make leadership accessible, they connect work to efforts to empower community, and they don't back down. joi foley: What message do you want to share with future generations? Zahra Billoo: I want people to understand that this is the work of lifetimes. Realistically, I'm not sure if we will free Palestine, or end poverty, or close the prison industrial complex in my lifetime. When I think of what I want future generations to understand is that they are not alone, they are not the first, and that we did the best that we could so that they would have it better. joi foley: Sometimes I think about, when I was younger, gay marriage seemed like it would never ever happen. Then, by the time it happened, I … it wasn't like I wasn't blasé about it, but I was like, “Oh, yeah, of course.” It was only a span of like 20 years or something that it- Zahra Billoo: But gay marriage isn't just about legislation either, right? joi foley: Yeah. Zahra Billoo: It's also about the shift in the narrative around people were being criminalized for who they love. Homes were being raided. Much of that continues, and so I don't think of the fight for equality for any people as simply about legislation but rather like, hey, every step forward is progress. I mean I remember when Ellen came out on TV and when Will & Grace was still a little bit unusual, and now it's like they're doing new episodes of Will & Grace, all of a sudden, after a sort of a very long hiatus. We're seeing small steps towards progress for Palestine, for people in prisons, but what's hard is sometimes it's one step forward, two steps back, and that's the most heartbreaking thing. Zahra Billoo: I think what I really struggle with is this thing that we've been saying since the election, which is that the system isn't broken. Trump was not elected because the system was broken. Trump was elected because the system works exactly as it was supposed to, and so how do we, for the purposes of our lifetimes but also future generations, balance working within a system that we acknowledge to be corrupt and faulty while also attempting to build something new in parallel? joi foley: Yeah. What has changed or shaped your leadership? Zahra Billoo: Learning from my mistakes has always been an important way in which I acknowledge the opportunity to grow. It's not easy to fall on your face and then have to pick right back up because it's not like the work is done or have time to recover, but I try really hard to see challenges as opportunities for growth. Zahra Billoo: The other thing that I would say that's been really important is to have people who I trust that I can call for advice. That's been, at times, board members, at times peers, people I've met through Rockwood, and friends in the work where I'll call and say, “Hey, can you help me get my head on straight? This is how I'm feeling about XYZ. Is this right?” It's not always easy to be told that you're wrong, but to have people who can do that gently and compassionately and also confidentially is so critical because sometimes it's also … As much as I want to embrace errors as opportunities for growth, which I believe they are, we don't have, always, the flexibility to fail in movement spaces or in nonprofit spaces where mistakes can cost grant money or relationships or impact someone's life individually. joi foley: Yeah. What brings you joy? Zahra Billoo: My nieces. I have two nieces who are three and a half and one and a half. They smile, and babble, and laugh, and make faces all while having no idea that the world is on fire outside their house. I think about doing this work for them so that they, like me, who were born as Muslim women, as girls of color in the United States with at least the comfort of US citizenship can do more and accomplish more than I could. It's also simply the case that a child's laughter, particularly when you don't have to ever clean up their diapers, is so incredible. My brother calls every once in a while when the kids are being rowdy and they'll … they know that I'm on the other side of the phone. I will drop everything to take that call. It doesn't matter what I'm doing because they remind me that I'm doing this work for them but also that joy is possible. joi foley: Yeah. I think that just the phrasing of joy is possible is … it's like it's both present and future, and you can work towards it. Zahra Billoo: Yes, yes. joi foley: That's what came up for me when you said that. Other than joy, or maybe it is joy, but what's needed now? Zahra Billoo: I would say that what is needed now, well, there's a long list of things, but what comes to mind for me is sustenance. A lot of people, including a lot of Rockwood alums, are operating at a pace that they haven't before. It's go, go, go. I lose track of how many 12-hour days I have, and that is not sustainable in the long run. What sustainability might require is more funding, more people finding careers in the movement, more people thinking about how to make this work lifestyle work, so even if you're not in the movement, are you donating regularly? Are you going to the efforts regularly? Are you bringing joy to the lives of people who are in the movement full time to help them sustain? Zahra Billoo: I'd say that another thing that comes to mind for me around what's needed is high-quality work, is that there isn't room. There should be room. I know Rockwood teaches us that there should be room for F-ups, but some F-ups are just too consequential. Some resources are too limited, and so I wonder how we train people to do high-quality, high-quantity work and reward them for that. Zahra Billoo: The additional thing that comes to mind, for me, around what's needed is unity. Many people in a movement will say unity is not uniformity. We don't have to agree on everything, but we have to agree on basic human rights and civil rights for all people, and if we can't, then get out of the way of the work. I want to see our movements be really strong. For example, it's been really disheartening to see some of the attacks on the Women's March, but then it's been really powerful to see people step up and say, “Hey, we're in this together, right? So get with it or get out of the way, and we're going to continue to do that work.” There's lots and lots of examples of this every day, but to ensure that we don't play into the hands of white supremacists, or war mongers, or misogynists, or anyone else trying to break up our movements by allowing ourselves to be divided. joi foley: Yeah. I find that a lot of my work now, my personal work, is helping my friends realize the stories that are kind of swimming around them. They can dig down to what's true. Zahra Billoo: That's so true. I think about that with so many with … any time I carry a privilege and I'm hearing a conversation among my circles about a group that doesn't have that same privilege, right? What's one that comes up for me sometimes is I am a cisgendered heterosexual woman, and conversations about gay marriage, gay rights, trans rights, public restroom safety, any of those things, to stop those conversations sometimes and say, “Hey, let's make sure that we're operating from a place of empathy. Let's make sure that we understand our privilege in this moment, and then let's see what the most impacted people are saying,” has sometimes been the work of allyship that I can do. Similarly, people ask me sometimes, “Well, what do I say to my racist grandma?” I'm like, “Keep having conversations with her because I'm not invited to her house.” joi foley: Yeah, and I think this ties into what we're talking about: How do you practice resilience online and off? Zahra Billoo: The first hate piece about me was when I was in law school, and it was because Daniel Pipes, so decades-long notorious anti-Muslim activist, had been protested at a location 400 miles away from where I was, and all I had done was send out an email encouraging people to join a protest that someone else was organizing. All of a sudden, I got credit for organizing the whole protest, and they went through my blog, and they went through my Facebook, and they went through the meeting minutes for student government meetings I had been in to put together these dossiers about me, and I didn't even know that Twitter was around yet. Zahra Billoo: What I learned, at that time, was a few things. One was limit what you read for your self-care, right? Look, haters going to hate. How much of that do I need to read? How much of that do I need to consume? I need to be aware, just as I am with in-person interactions and who triggers me, what the cost of these things is. Sometimes, being unaware is better than being drained. I think of people that trigger me and the resolutions I've made to just be like, “Your email always is harassing and bullying, and I'm just not reading it anymore because you don't get to do that to me.” I think of that. Zahra Billoo: Other parts that I learned around that were that it was so important that I developed my own content, that if someone wanted to know who Zahra Billoo was that the first find that they would have was not a hate monger's website about me. That's easier said than done with all of the SEO things that I don't even understand. Zahra Billoo: The last thing was that … This is going to sound a little bit ridiculous maybe. I don't know. There is something to be said about how effective you are when the haters come for you, right? I don't want to trivialize how terrifying it can be because it can be, right? I live in a secure apartment complex, and no one has my address, right? I have friends who have had to hire security and put up cameras, but there's still something telling about, look, if Fox News is praising you, then you're probably doing it all wrong. Challenging the status quo, the powers that be, and people who perpetuate oppression, for me, is not just about resilience. It's prophetic. It's what the leaders that I look up to did and paid a price for, but I recognize that I stand on their shoulders. Zahra Billoo: You know, I also make regular time to hang out with friends. I eat ice cream nearly daily when I'm not dieting. If I'm dieting, I'm eating fruit-on-the-bottom Greek yogurt, but there's still sugar because that has an impact. I go to the gym because that does things for my adrenaline. I vacation regularly. These nieces are a place that I visit, that I see, that I call, and so it's also just important that people figure out what brings them joy and what that looks like and then prioritize that. Zahra Billoo: I know one of the hardest things, for me, about going on vacation, for example, is how do I turn of my brain and stop checking my emails? Usually, it's like midway through vacation by the time I have accomplished that, and then it's over, which motivates me to plan my next one. It's not easy to come under attack as many people are more frequently these days but, in some ways, it's almost the cost of doing this work. joi foley: That's all for this episode of Rockwood's Leading From The Inside Out podcast. Before you go, if you're an alum of Rockwood's programs and would like to be on this podcast, let us know. Reach out to us at rockwoodleadership.org/podcast or send me an email at J-O-I@rockwoodleadership.org. The music in this episode is by Broke for Free, available from the Free Music Archive and brokeforfree.com. From all of us here at Rockwood, thank you for joining us, and we wish you joyful leadership.

Ep. 14 (September 23, 2018): Features the top 5 black news stories of the week with special guests including Stephen Hill, actor in CBS’ anticipated Monday night drama Magnum PI where he plays helicopter Pilot “TC.” Hill discusses the lack of Black Hollywood support for up and coming actors, Chadwick Boseman, Ferguson, HBCUs, and his other projects “Widows” and Netflix’s “Maniac.” Other guests include Ferguson organizer, Tory Russell, sharing an update on the continued protests in Ferguson, hashtag activism, and the protests against Deray McKesson. Journalist Ricardo Hazell joins the Black Hollywood report to discuss Keenan Thompson and the film Monsters & Men. While California organizer, Zahra Billoo, Executive Director of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) discusses the AB-931 police brutality bill and her work with Islamic and African American relations.  TIME STAMPS (Ep. 14: Sept. 23, 2018) Intro: Shabaam Sahdeeq, “Real Black News” Stephen Hill on the spirituality behind booking a role (6:46) Stephen Hill on the advice he received from actor Roger E. Mosley, the original TC on Magnum PI (8:11) Stephen Hill on old-school Magnum PI fans and social media critics (11:32) Stephen Hill on his late mother as a creative catalyst (15:20) Stephen Hill on his upcoming projects “Widows” and Netflix’s “Maniac” (16:45) Stephen Hill on thoughts of giving up, perseverance, and advice to actors (22:21) Stephen’s wish for Black Hollywood decision-makers (25:07) NYC reverses city’s decision to take elderly black woman’s home (30:54) Civil Rights groups push Facebook to review its policies on White Supremacy (36.22) “The Black Hollywood Report” with guest reporter Ricardo Hazell (Keenan Thompson/Monsters & Men) (40:55) An update on Ferguson with guest, Ferguson organizer Tory Russell (Continued Mike Brown protests, Protests against Deray, Hashtag Activism) (45:26) Stephen Hill on Ferguson (1:10:10) Study shows Black high school activists receive less replies from college admissions officers (1:12:14) Stephen Hill on the Black Think tank teaching at Ivy Leagues instead of HBCUs (1:13:06) Special Guest: Organizer Zahra Billoo with an update on California’s AB-931 Police Brutality Bill & Muslim vs African American relations (1:20:26) Young homeless brother gets job by giving out resumes to random people in cars (1:31:55) Stephen Hill thanks his supporters (1:35:35)

Zahra Billoo is the executive director at CAIR (Council on American–Islamic Relations) and has been fighting for Muslim-American and women's rights all her life. She is also a baker for Cake4Kids.Music: www.bensound.comHer favorite recipe is the One-Bowl Chocolate cake, which she says has made her a "chocolate cake snob." Martha Stewart's recipe is below.Ingredients:Unsalted butter, softened, for pans3/4 cup unsweetened Dutch cocoa powder, plus more for pans1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 1/2 cups sugar1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda3/4 teaspoon baking powder3/4 teaspoon salt2 large eggs3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk3/4 cup warm water3 tablespoons safflower oil1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans (2 inches deep); dust with cocoa. Sift cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of a mixer. Beat on low speed until just combined. Raise speed to medium, and add eggs, buttermilk, water, oil, and vanilla. Beat until smooth, about 3 minutes.2. Divide batter between pans. Bake until set and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes. Turn out from pans. Transfer, faceup, to wire racks. Let cool completely.3. Spread 2 cups chocolate frosting onto top of 1 cooled layer. Top with remaining layer; frost top and sides with remaining 2 cups frosting. Martha Stewart's One-Bowl Chocolate Cake Frosting Recipe2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powderPinch of salt6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled slightly3/4 cup creme fraiche, or sour cream1. Sift together sugar, cocoa, and salt.2. Beat cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Reduce speed to medium-low; gradually add sugar-cocoa mixture, and beat until combined. Pour in chocolate in a slow, steady stream. Add creme fraiche; beat until combined.Music: www.bensound.com

Zahra Billoo is a civil rights attorney and the Executive Director of the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American‐Islamic Relations (CAIR‐SFBA). Zahra is a leading voice on the civil rights of American Muslims. She led the fight against the Muslim ban and spoke at the Women's March.

On November 4th, 2015, The Women's Mosque of America participated in a Zaytuna Community Forum event, featuring founder M. Hasna Maznavi, khateebah Zahra Billoo, Dr. Rania Awaad, and moderated by Kristin George. View the event flyer here: http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=e77d3dba20355b0c06099d560&id=7582fc5c51&e=e464b6732d

Trump's Executive Order had so many in the streets this past weekend. With so much on our minds and hearts, we invite friends Ahmed Ali Akbar (host of our sibling podcast See Something Say Something) and Bim Adewunmi, reporter extraordinaire, to chat with us about Muslim identity and resistance. Plus, an Iranian man whose in-laws were detained at JFK airport walks us through the experience, and a pair of civil rights lawyers offer tips on how you can help if you're feeling helpless.Follow Ahmed Ali Akbar at @radbrowndads and Bim Adewunmi at @bimadew. Catch up on episodes of See Something Say Something at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething.Subscribe to the Another Round newsletter at buzzfeed.com/anotherround/newsletter. Resources from the See Something Say Something excerpt: Zahra Billoo is a civil rights lawyer and community organizer who leads the California chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). Follow her at @ZahraBilloo.Ramzi Kassem is a professor of Law at CUNY School of Law, where he directs the CLEAR project, which stands for “creating law enforcement accountability and responsibility.” Follow his work at @CUNY_CLEAR.Here's the infographic Ahmed mentions: CLEAR's Guidance on the Executive Order.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annnd we’re back! The previous episode (our live show) was supposed to be the end of Season 1. Then, President Trump issued an executive order blocking refugees, immigrants and travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries: Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. We have to talk about this, and we’ll be posting a few short episodes to keep you up-to-date this week. First up, Ahmed talks with Zahra Billoo and Ramzi Kassem about what to do if you or someone you know is detained at an airport—whether you’re an immigrant, visa holder, or a Muslim citizen. Billoo is a civil rights lawyer and community organizer who leads the California chapter of  the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). Follow her at @ZahraBilloo. Kassem is a professor of Law at CUNY School of Law, where he directs the CLEAR project, which stands for “creating law enforcement accountability and responsibility.” Follow his work at @CUNY_CLEAR. Here's the infographic Ahmed mentions: CLEAR's Guidance on the Executive Order. Follow Ahmed at @radbrowndads. Follow the show at @seesomething and facebook.com/seesomethingpodcast Find more episodes at buzzfeed.com/seesomethingsaysomething Email us at saysomething@buzzfeed.com. Our music is by The Kominas. Follow them at @TheRealKominas and kominas.bandcamp.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FR 17 - 04 - Are Muslims Afraid? - Zahra Billoo - 01 - 21 - 17 by Church State Council

A recap of state and local election results.An interview with Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations.

Navigating workplace dress requirements can be challenging for candidates seeking employment in a work environment whose look policy is in conflict with their religious practices. How can new hires avoid these conflicts? What responsibilities do employers have in accommodating these employees? On this Special Report, trial attorney Siri Thanasombat with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, executive director Zahra Billoo of the Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and shareholder at Littler Mendelson P.C. Dionysia L. Johnson-Massie sit down with Legal Talk Network producer Laurence Colletti to discuss their ABA Midyear panel on accommodating religious attire in the workplace.   Zahra Billoo is the executive director of the Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. She is also a co-founder of Project Feed and served as a board member of the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California Foundation. Zahra graduated from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Sirithon (Siri) Thanasombat is a trial attorney with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission based in San Francisco. She received a degree in Sociology from U.C. Berkeley and her Master’s Degree from Princeton University. Siri received her law degree from New York University. Dionysia L. Johnson-Massie is a shareholder at Littler Mendelson and was named by Savoy Magazine as one of the most influential black lawyers of 2015. She received a degree in Psychology from Yale University and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Khateebah Zahra Billoo delivers the 7th khutbah for The Women's Mosque of America on July 24th, 2015. In her sermon, Zahra talks about how we as individuals in the Muslim community should stand up for ourselves and our communities to challenge injustice in our daily lives and the world around us. Bio: As the Executive Director of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) San Francisco Bay Area, Zahra Billoo strives to promote justice and mutual understanding. Zahra joined CAIR-SFBA in 2009, and immediately embraced her roles as community organizer and civil rights advocate. She frequently provides trainings at mosques and universities as part of CAIR's efforts to empower the community, while building bridges with allies on civil rights issues. Zahra also represents victims of discrimination and advocates for policy changes that uphold civil rights for all. A 2014 recipient of the National Lawyers Guild SF Bay Area Chapter's Unsung Hero Award and a 2013 recipient of the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California's Trailblazer Award, Zahra came to CAIR with a background in employment and labor rights advocacy. In college, she worked with the California Faculty Association on issues including faculty salaries and the defunding of public higher education. In law school, she was awarded the Peggy Browning Fund Fellowship to work on the National Employment Law Project. Zahra graduated Cum Laude from CSU Long Beach with degrees in Human Resources Management and Political Science. She earned her J.D. from UC Hastings College of Law, and was admitted to the California Bar in 2009.

Posted on September 8, 2014 by apexexpress | Leave a comment Today is the anniversary of 9/11, an event that has left indelible marks on our society and culture: We're still grappling with the ramifications of the twin towers, and coming to terms with the wars, surveillance and black site prisons that have since proliferated in the name of “safety.” In commemoration, we look back at our past September 11th focused broadcasts, starting in 2001, and the ways in which our communities came to cope with, organize and fight back against the legacy left by 9/11. Clips include: Yuri Kochiyama's speech at the 9/11 rally in 2001. Gina Hotta's sound collage of emotions, experiences and a coming together in the wake of 9/11. Truth on Trial – a follow up interview on the surveillance of Pakistani residents in a town called Lodi. Robynn Takayama's short documentary and music piece on community efforts to help Muslim Americans targeted by hate crimes. We also have a live phone interview with Zahra Billoo from CAIR on the lasting impact on Muslims and what's being done to protect them.   Finally, we have a report back from the recent rally at the Marriot in Oakland which hosted the annual Urban Shield Conference.   Hosted by Salima HamiraniProduction: Salima Hamirani and Marie Choi.   The post APEX Express – September 11, 2014 appeared first on KPFA.

For our second episode, hosts Parvez Ahmed and Zaki Hasan are joined by Zahra Billoo, executive director of the San Francisco-Bay Area chapter of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), for an in-depth conversation on the goals, history, and criticisms of the venerable civil rights organization (it marks its second decade next year), and her own efforts to bridge interfaith understanding both before and after becoming a part of it. You can download or stream the show below, as well as via iTunes (don't forget to leave us a review!). Also, many thanks for all the feedback and comments on episode 1! Please keep them coming! You can send any questions and concerns our way at diffusedcongruence@gmail.com.

   On Monday, August 20th, journalist Seth Rosenfeld released articles and a video alleging that longtime activist, Richard Aoki was a FBI informant. Since then, many circle within the Black Panther Party, and the Asian American community have been discussing the facts, and the implications of these allegations. We bring activist and scholar Harvey Dong, close friend of Aoki, to add perspective to the diverse responses. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and during that month, fasting is observed. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam (Kalima, Salat: Prayer, Zakat, and Hajj, or Pilgrimage being the other four).  Zahra Billoo of the Center for American Islamic Relations shares what Ramadan is about and it's significance this year. We play an award-winning segment on a water struggle on Maui, produced by Robynn Takayama back in 2008. Why? Because last week, the Hawai'i Supreme Court gave a favorable ruling, so we'll hear an update from Earthjustice Attorney Isaac Moriwake  about this recent victory. With Hosts RJ and Preeti. The post APEX Express – August 23, 2012 appeared first on KPFA.

This week we broadcast a local discussion on Vincent Chin, a victim of a hate crime in Detroit 30 years ago, and its legacy. APEX Express contributor R.J. Lozada moderated a panel with Angela Chan, staff attorney of the Asian Law Caucus, Vincent Pan, executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, Ling Woo Liu, director of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, and Zahra Billoo, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. The panel delves into hate crimes, the short comings of recent legislation, and how each group is working together to change the culture of law and order. The post APEX Express – June 28, 2012 appeared first on KPFA.

 September 11 Then and Now This week on Apex Express, we reflect back on 9/11. As the nation remembers the victims in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on board the airplanes, Apex explores the aftermath and how OUR communities have been affected. We'll hear a personal documentary by Robynn Takayama on how several Asian Pacific communities responded immediately after 9/11 to address racist scapegoating, hate crimes, and the build up to the War on Terrorism. We also talk with Co-founder of the Sikh Coalition, Amardeep Singh, about the recent Islamaphobia conference and the accompanying website, “Unheard Voices of 9/11.” And finally, we bring you a round table discussion with Valarie Kaur, award-winning filmmaker; Fahd Ahmed, legal and policy director with DRUM, Desis Rising Up & Moving; and Zahra Billoo, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. Plus we have a pair of tickets to Anthony Brown's Asian American Orchestra at Yoshi's SF on September 11 for the 30th anniversary of the first Asian American Jazz Festival. The post APEX Express – September 8, 2011 appeared first on KPFA.