This call focused on the latest issue surrounding Right-wing attacks on the show over the last week has called for advertisers to pull ads for the show. Importantly, we want to reiterate that the boycott info is drawn from sources already out there posted by the anti-Muslim fringe groups. In no way is this information in connection with BoomGen Studios or TLC.

You can learn more about who is on the boycott sponsor list and read their posts to get an idea of the anti-Muslim sentiment displayed by clicking here.

Various action points taken that were discussed during the conference call with a focused number of ideas featured below:

 

Dilshad Ali, the Managing Editor of the Muslim portal at Patheos[1] opened up the call for writers to submit their works to the blog recently launched dedicated to highlighting the conversations around “All American Muslim.” The link to the blog is: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/allamericanmuslim/

 

It is imperative to reach out to members of the interfaith community and other non-Muslim Americans to speak out against the normalization of Islamophobia in America. Some interfaith mentioned were:

 

The Sojourners (progressive evangelical organization.

Jim Wallis

202-631-7763

 

Common Wheel (which is a progressive Catholic org).

Contact Katherine Forrest

650-854-5695

 

Most importantly, it is first important to verify these claims that advertisers have pulled out before responding to the allegations.

One suggestion was that we go after the advertisers who have succumbed to the pressure of the fringe groups by outing their behavior in Opeds, blogs, and other publishable and widely circulated works.

 

A second point involves a more subtle approach of meeting with corporations for behind the scenes conversations. If we prepare information based on the purchasing power of Muslims as consumers, we can appeal to these advertisers by making them see the potential financial loss they would incur by their continued alienation of their Muslim consumers.

 

Someone raised the importance of contacting other useful networks in connection with Muslim consumer markets such as American Muslim Consumer and Oglvy Noor.

Other suggestions listed here were for investigative journalists to examine Islamophobia through the lens of these anti-Muslim fringe groups so that the hatred is exposed on a wider level extending beyond the Muslim communities we belong to.

It was noted that the response from most interfaith and other progressive faith organizations has been overwhelmingly supportive. However, while many Muslim stakeholders have been extremely engaged in promoting the show, many have been less responsive and otherwise hesitant to issue formal statements in support of the show in the face of criticisms leveled at the show from outside and within the community. Any influence you may have in communicating the urgency of this call to the leadership in these organizations, as well as to some individual leaders who have taken a more lukewarm and cautious approach in their discussions around this show is welcomed.

To be a part of any of these efforts, please contact BoomGen’s campaign manager, Maha Awad, at: maha.awad@boomgenstudios.com. 

 

For those interested in learning more about how you can contribute to the Patheos blog, please contact Dilshad Ali at: Dali@patheos.com.

 

Thank you all for such a successful call and we look forward to more in the near future.

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