Cowards and Bigots

By Joshua Pugh/Progress Michigan

Will Gov. Rick Snyder stand idly by while Michigan citizens are demonized by a Florida group of right-wing radicals?

He will if he doesn’t hear from you. 

All-American Muslim, the TLC show depicting the lives of five Muslim families from Dearborn, provides an opportunity for viewers around the country to learn more about a culture and religion that is too often misunderstood. But Lowe’s home improvement chain and Kayak, a travel site, pulled their ads from the show under pressure from a right-wing fringe group, the Florida Family Association. Now we’re fighting back. Rick may be a Republican, but he was elected to represent the people of Michigan - all of us.

Join us - and hundreds of other Michiganders - in calling on Gov. Snyder to refuse to bend to the will of those who preach hate and bigotry by standing up for the Michiganders being bullied and demonized by the Florida Family Association.

Dearborn, which helped pioneer the auto industry, has been home to waves of multi-generational Irish, Polish, Ukrainian and other diverse peoples and is now home to a proud community of American families that practice the Muslim faith. They are doctors, teachers, police officers, fire fighters, autoworkers - they are Americans. Over 5,000 Muslims and Arab-Americans fought on both sides of the Civil War. Over 15,000 Arab-Americans fought in World War II against Hitler and Japan. After 9/11, Muslims led Marines and other soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Muslim families are an American story - a Michigan story - that is at once unique and also a reflection of our state’s traditional heritage of diversity.   

This latest hateful, anti-Muslim attack is part of an ongoing effort by a select handful of activists who work to create and promote misinformation about Muslims. According to an investigative report by the Center for American Progress, a small group of conservative foundations and wealthy donors are the lifeblood of the Islamophobia network in America. 

We’re proud to stand up against bigotry and cowardice - but we need your help. Sign our petition today to help us send a strong message to those who would divide us, that we as Michiganders value people, families and diversity.

P.S. Please forward the petition to a few friends who would appreciate the opportunity to have their voices heard and have them take action using the link below:

www.progressmichigan.org/AllAmerican