MPower Change Launches #FlyingWhileMuslim Stories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2023

CONTACT:
Granate Kim, granate@mpowerchange.org

NEW YORK, NY — MPower Change, the nationally recognized digital advocacy group for U.S. Muslim communities, has launched MPowerChange.org/FlyingWhileMuslimStories - a repository of #FlyingWhileMuslim Stories documenting the impact, harm, and indignities suffering by U.S. Muslims subject to ongoing profiling in our nation’s airports.

"#FlyingWhileMuslim Stories is an ongoing chronicle of the appalling racial and religious profiling faced by Muslim and Arab travelers in our nation’s airports. We all deserve to travel safely, with dignity, and without harm or humiliation. The #FlyingWhileMuslim campaign is designed to bring that day closer.” – Linda Sarsour, Executive Director of MPower Change.

In January, a version of the No-Fly List was leaked, validating the fears of so many Muslim and Arab travelers in the United States: the No-Fly List is hundreds of thousands of names long and composed “almost entirely” of Arabic and Muslim names. (Roughly 10% of the No-Fly list inclusions are named Muhammad.) Around the world, journalists reported on this new evidence confirming the U.S. government’s racial and religious profiling of Muslim and Arab travelers. 

MPower Change members know that personal  stories can make a difference.  That’s why MPower Change members responded to the leaked No-Fly list with how profiling has impacted them while trying to travel. We encourage you to take a few minutes to read #FlyingWhileMuslim stories shared by MPower Change members and our wider community.

U.S. Muslims with #FlyingWhileMuslim experiences to share can add new stories at MPowerChange.org/FlyingWhileMuslimStories.

“The day to day reality of the No-Fly List has been Muslims routinely targeted, detained, interrogated, and effectively prevented from flying in peace. By sharing our #FlyingWhileMuslim Stories, we reaffirm how harmful the No-Fly List is and has been — and work to reclaim the dignity of our community.” — Ishraq Ali, Organizing Director of MPower Change.

Learn more about the campaign at: MPowerChange.org/FlyingWhileMuslimStories

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