PRESS RELEASE
JAN 18, 2020
Re: Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull apologizes for his racist, bigoted, xenophobic, and Islamophobic Comments today at the Muslim Educational Trust at 3:00 p.m. in person (by invitation due to space limitation).
You may also view the event virtually by clicking here
Please contact:
Wajdi Said, President and Co-Founder, Muslim Educational Trust, 503.579.6621 wajdi@metpdx.org
Ronault LS Catalani (Polo), Founder of the New Portland Foundation 503.984.6310 polo.nwccounsel@icloud.com
Imam Najieb, Muslim Community Center of Portland, 503.475.1955 mccp.officeof.imam@gmail.com
Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee, Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church, 503.351.8356 pastor.matth@comcast.net
Mollie Reavis, Sister of the Holy Names, Institute for Christian Muslim Understanding, 503.285.0634 reavis_m@hotmail.com
(Portland, OR) “On a day in which we celebrate and honor the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we seek to address ignorance and bigotry with a strong sense of compassionate resolve that seeks to find healing and reconciliation while holding those in power accountable for their actions. "This is the beginning towards responsible behavior as an elected official” -- Pastor J.W. Matt Hennessee, Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church
“Bigotry and xenophobia towards those different is nothing new. The United States removed American citizens of Japanese descent 80 years ago because of bigotry and xenophobia. It begins with words and then translates into actions. Society must continue to get better and learn from history.” -- Sho Dozono, President of New Portland Foundation.
Rooted in the Teachings of Prophet Mohammed, Prophet Jesus, and Prophet Moses (peace be upon them all), Muslim Educational Trust (MET), President and Co-founder, Wajdi Said, stated last week in messages to our region’s faith, civil society, and government leaders that pointing out Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull’s wrongs and ridding him from our lives, is easy. Hard is maintaining community. Even harder is making community with all those neighbors loving and believing in the man you and I don’t want around anymore.
Our working theory:
Rising to the daily work of building community and addressing inequity and intolerance that was done by leaders such as Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (Malcolm X), Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa, and many other great leaders of the past and today, is difficult but is necessary.
The goals of the small group now sitting with Commissioner Mark Shull, are less elevated but more practical. Segregating those of us who can’t stand what Mark Shull said, from those of us who agree with him, continues the societally destructive American ruts institutionalized by an era of shoving black families out of white bus seats and lunch counter stools. Last century’s escape clause, “You can always move out,” is no longer acceptable. Likewise, structuring political divides between differing populations will only continue the worldwide spiritual disintegration.
Our basic outcomes:
For the practical Pacific Northwesterners meeting with Commissioner Shull, in the middle of so much American anger and sorrow, our desired outcomes will be the answers to the questions we put to Commissioner Shull and to ourselves:
A. How do we stop our societal and our spiritual disintegration, here and now?
B. What can we ask Commissioner Shull, his family, and community to do, and what can we ask elected officials in all political parties, organizations, citizens wanting to cancel him, to do, for truth and reconciliation. Here and now.
Three fundamentals are taking form;
1. Apologizing for public harm: Meaning, we need to know what harm is done; what is a public apology; what media are necessary.
2. Convening public conversations on healing: Meaning, how do we have an open conversation; and who must participate.
3. Facilitating educational forums on xenophobia generally, on Islamophobia specifically. Meaning, what and where are effective forums.
This letter is endorsed by Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, the Institute for Christian-Muslim Understanding, New Portland Foundation, Arab and Jewish Muslim Dialogue, the Beloved Community Coalition, Oregon Muslim Youth, and by the following Jewish, Christian, Muslim, African American, Latino, Indigenous, and citizens of goodwill:
Imam Najieb, Muslim Community Center of Portland
Mozafar Wanly, President of the Salman Al Farsi Islamic Centner
Bahaa Wanly, President of the Salem Islamic Society
Sho Dozono, President, New Portland Foundation
Hector Hinojosa, Washington County Latino Leader
Ms. Jan Elfers, Executive Director, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Sister Mollie Reavis, Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Rabbi Michael Cahana, Congregation Beth Israel
Rabbi David Kosak, Congregation Neveh Shalom
Rabbi Benjamin Barnett, Congregation Havurah Shalom
Imam Abdullah Polovina, Islamic Bosniaks Educational and Cultural Center
Sheikh Mohamed Elebaid, Masjid Lady Khadija
Imam Sharif Abdullahi Mohammad, Masjid Abu Bakr
Shahriar Ahmed, President of Bilal Masjid
Musse Olol, Somali American Council of Oregon
Jawad Khan, Muslim Educational Trust
Ms. Juwairyah Syed, Oregon Islamic Academy educator
Arif Kareem, Bilal Masjid Trustee
Polo Catalani, Founder of New Portland Foundation
Allen Oyler, Elder of the Latter Day Saints Beaverton Stake
Ms. Marwa Mahmood, Oregon Islamic Academy educator
Jahed Sukhun, Palestinian American Leader
Jamal Tarhuni, President Libyan Society of Portland
Pastor Matt Hennessee, Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church
Wajdi Said, President and Co-Founder, Muslim Educational Trust
Blake Goud, Treasurer, New Portland Foundation
Jack Hanna, New Portland Foundation
Ms. Asena Lawrence, Turkish American Leader