“TODAY I AM MUSLIM TOO”
Times Square, 19 February 2017

PROGRAMS OF THE DAY

MCs: Dean Obeidallah & Judy Gold

12:00 – 12:30: Participants arrival (handled by Mohamed Razvi of COPO)

Opening session: Dean & Judy

12:30 – 12:35: Welcoming remarks by MCs

12:35 – 12:40: National Anthem (lead by Kashish Shamsi)

12:40 – 12: 46: Interfaith prayers (2 minutes each).

• Rabbi Simkha Weintraub (The Jewish Board, Rabbinic Director)
• Pastor Owen Williams (St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, Queens)
• Imam Rafeek Mohamed (Founder / Principal, Al-Ihsan Academy)

Conveners (3 minutes each):

• Russell Simmons (Chairman, Foundation for Ethnic Understanding)
• Rabbi Marc Schneier (President, Foundation for Ethnic Understanding)
• Imam Shamsi Ali (Spiritual Leader, Jamaica Muslim Center & President, Nusantara Foundation)

Elected Officials: each will speak for 3 minutes:

1. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio
2. Assemblyman Robert Carroll
3. NYC Councilman Ben Kallos (District 5th)
4. NYC Councilman Rory I. Lancman (District 24th)
5. NYC Councilman Brad Lander (District 39th)

Speakers: each 2 minutes:

1. Rabbi Bob Kaplan (JCRC NY)
2. Rev. N. J. L’Heureux, Jr. (Queens Federation of Churches / Council of Churches)
3. Sheikh Fadhel Al-Sahlani (Al-Khoei Foundation)
4. Simon Moss (Global Citizen, Co-Founder & Global Director, Campaign
5. Rev. Dr. TK Nakagaki (President, Buddhist Council of NY)
6. Linda Sarsour (Director, Arab American Association New York)
7. Steven Choi (Executive Director, NY Immigration Coalition)

Entertainment session I: 5 minutes

• EC Salsero

Speakers (cont.): each 2 minutes:

1. Mr. Sanford Rubenstein (Civil Rights Attorney)
2. Doug Hostetter (UN Director, Mennonite Central Committee)
3. Dr. Henry Goldschmit (Program Director, Interfaith Center of New York)
4. Rabbi Allison Tick Brill (Congregation E-manuel of the City of New York)
5. Walter Sebastian Adler (Director of Strategic Planning, General Coordinating Committee)
6. Minister John Williams (North Conference of Seventh Day Adventist Chruch)
7. Simran Jeet Singh (Leader, Sikh Community)

Entertainment session II: 5 minutes

• Prince Rumi

Speakers (cont.): each 2 minutes:

1. Reza Fakhari (Amnesty International US Board of Directors)
2. Rev. Peter Heltzel, Ph.D (Director, Micah Institute at NY Theological Seminary)
3. Reza Fakhari (Amnesty International US Board of Directors)
4. Rev. Dr. Stephen Holton (Episcopalian Church)
5. Joyce Dubinsky (CEO/ Vice President, Tanenbaum Center)
6. Dr. Mohamed Nurhussein (Chairman, United African Congress)
7. Aldo Rafael Perez (Exe. Director of Muslim & Immigrant Coalition for Justice)

Entertainment session III: 5 minutes

• Stephan Said

Speakers (cont.) 2 minutes each:

1. Rev. Dr. Robert Morrison (Presbytery of New York City)
2. Jenan Matari (Miss Muslim)
3. Bishop Raymond Rufen-Blanchette, Clergy Campaign for Racial and Economic Justice
4. Talat Hamdani (911 Family & Friends for Peaceful Tomorrows)
5. Aminta Kilawan (Sandana, Coalition of Progressive Hindus)
6. Donna Lieberman (Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union)
7. Ismail Sayeed (NYU Muslim Community)

Entertainment session III: 5 minutes

• Ali Kulture

Speakers (cont.) each 2 minutes:

1. Dr. Debbie Almontaser (Board President, Muslim Community Network)
2. Daisy Khan (Executive Director & Founder, WISE)
3. Kwaja Mizan Hassan (Community Leader/Chairman, Jamaica Muslim Center)
4. Maryam Zakiyah (Youth Activist/American Muslim Youth)
5. Wali Ullah (Imam, Youth Leader)
6. Naheed Bahram (Women for Afghan Women)

Entertainment IV: closing song (see below)

• Kashish Shamsi

Closing: (Imam Shamsi Ali & Rabbi Marc Schneier thank all volunteers/participants)

All conveners and religious leaders & speakers present to the stage to sing: 1) America the Beautiful & Stronger together.