[Note:

This document is for sharing widely and is especially cra9ed for friends of all faiths to publicly speak and write le<ers to
editors and Op-Eds about the lives and contribuAons of their American Muslim neighbors. The rst 5 secAons below facts about
American Muslims, secAon on religious language, how to talk about the lives, values and contribuAons of Muslims in your life, and
the info about Muslims in specic parts of the state that might be most useful to you in your le<ers to editors, Op-Eds and
interviews. AnA-Muslim hate speech by many leaders have been covered by naAonal news sources, so your le<ers to editors can be
published by naAonal newspapers and be read by the largest possible audience of millions. Youll nd the top naAonal newspapers
le<ers and opinion editors contact info and guidelines here: h<p://www.theopedproject.org/index.php?
opAon=com_content&view=arAcle&id=47&Itemid=54 ]

3 key messages plus supporAng messages for each. Memorize them and repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat over
and over again. Do not change the words or phrasing. They are designed for impact and to address common
concerns and phrased in a way to be understood and educate eecAvely.

1) American Muslims deserve the same opportuniAes as all Americans to build be<er
futures for our families and children.
a) American Muslims share our countrys strong family values, dedicated to raising
and educaAng their children.
b) American Muslims want to succeed in the tradiAonal American way by working
hard and supporAng their families.
c) Muslims here are Americans in their hearts and in fact most are born or raised as
U.S. ciAzens.
2) American Muslims parAcipate acAvely in mainstream society, as our co- workers,
ciAzens and neighbors.
a) American Muslims give back every day as nurses, doctors, teachers, business
people, and in the many other roles building our naAons vibrant economy.
b) With other ethnic groups, American Muslims form the cultural diversity that is one
of Americas greatest strengths.
c) American Muslims give back to our communiAes, as volunteers in school PTAs,
food banks and many other local service organizaAons.
3) American Muslims share the same American values and freedoms that we all cherish,
knowing that we are all in this together.
a) Over 10,000 American Muslims are serving honorably in our naAons armed forces,
and many have made the ulAmate sacrice for our country, including Specialist
Kareem R. Khan, Major James Ahearn, Specialist Rasheed Sahib, and Captain
Humayun S.M. Khan.
b) American Muslims believe in the right and freedom of all U.S. ciAzens to live and
worship in their own way, and they deserve to pracAce their faith in return.
c) American Muslims condemn all violent, criminal acts, and they uphold the
ConsAtuAon and the laws of the United States.

NOTE: Never, ever repeat, even sarcasAcally, the bad words used to a<ack our community, e.g. ISIS, radical(ism,
iazaAon), extreme(ism, ist), cult, terror(ism)(ist) or jihadi(ist)(ism), Wahhabi(ist), or call yourself anything but
American (no foreign naAonaliAes) and Muslim (if Muslim, to emphasize idenAty, beliefs, inspiraAon to do good).