Who is the CNY BORDC?
The CNY BORDC is a coalition of concerned individuals and 22 community organizations who work to restore civil liberties curtailed by the federal government since 9-11. The active members of the Steering Committee are:
Barrie Gewanter (CNY Chapter NYCLU/ACLU), Carol Baum (Syracuse Peace Council), Dan and Doris Sage (SOA Abolitionists), Chrissie Rizzo (American Friends Service Committee), Magda Bayoumi (American Muslim Council), John Brule (Peace Action of CNY) and Louis Sileo (People for Animal Rights).

Participate in Muslim Solidarity Weekend: Feb 24-26

The CNY Bill of Rights Defense Campaign (BORDC) is asking religious congregations, secular organizations and individuals throughout Central NY to act in solidarity with local Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities by sharing true stories of what these communities have faced in the United States since 9-11-01.

What We're Asking
In previous years, the Central NY BORDC has asked people to commit to individual acts of solidarity (see below for "Why This Weekend"). This year, the Central NY BORDC asks you to demonstrate cross-cultural solidarity in a more collective way, by sharing some stories with your congregation or group. The stories are available as copy-ready pdfs. There are five versions, which have stories relating to: actions of prejudice and hate; traveling by car, bus and plane; news of detentions, interrogation, and torture; profiling and labeling of legal immigrants and visitors; and rendition and deportation.

Download camera-ready bulletin inserts on:
Actions of prejudice and hate;
Traveling by car, bus and plane;
News of detentions, interrogation, and torture;
Profiling and labeling of legal immigrants and visitors;
Stories of rendition and deportation.

We ask that your congregation or group commit to do one or more of the following:

1. Place copies of one or more of the four sheets of stories into your program or newsletter on or near this coming February 26th ;

2. Utilize some of these stories as part of a reading, group discussion, or sermon/homily near February 26th or at some other time this year;

3. Invite a speaker from the Muslim, Arab, or South Asian communities to address your congregation or group at some time between February 26, 2006 and February 26, 2007.

This effort has been endorsed by the InterReligious Council of CNY and its Director Jim Wiggins, as well as by Rev. Thomas Wolfe, the Dean of Hendricks Chapel at Syracuse University and president of the IRC Board of Directors.

Please let us know of your congregation's or group's intention or commitment to do one of these three things by February 21st , so we can record and communicate this fact to the leaders of Muslim congregations in CNY, and with your permission to the media. If you prefer to wait until later, please let us know about your plans.

For More Information
Barrie Gewanter, CNY ACLU, (315) 471-2821, director(at)cnyclu.org
Carol Baum, Syracuse Peace Council, (315) 472-5478, carol(at)peacecouncil.net

Why This Weekend?
For the past few years, the Central NY BORDC has organized an annual Muslim Solidarity Day on February 26th. This is the anniversary of the day in 2003 when federal and local law enforcement agents aggressively interrogated 150 Muslim and Arab families in Central New York during the course of an investigation into a local charity. The agents were intimidating, intrusive, and insensitive, as if every Muslim family was under suspicion. This local experience was especially frightening, but is part of a larger experience of people who are often viewed as potential enemies since 9-11-01.