Third Party Watch

The following is a media release from the Ralph Nader presidential campaign:

October 2, 2008
www.votenader.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marc Abizeid, 202-360-3273, marcabizeid@votenader.org

NADER TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE OUTSIDE GRAND MOSQUE FRIDAY, OCT. 3

Ralph Nader will be holding a news conference Friday, October 3 at 11 a.m. outside the Grand Mosque Islamic Center in Washington DC where he will challenge Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain to visit a mosque, like they have churches and synagogues, before the November election as a show of respect and tolerance.

Nader recently wrote a letter to Obama and McCain asking the men to act on such a request.

“As you know, discriminatory acts against Muslim-Americans have soared in recent years. They emanate from stereotyping, ethnic profiling, bigotry and, unfortunately, actions by some local, state & federal officials. The documentation is broad and deep on this unfortunate situation that spreads fear and anxiety among millions of Muslim-Americans…,” Nader wrote in his letter to Obama and McCain. “Out of respect for Muslim-Americans who have served in all the dimensions of our society from the professions to the armed forces, from the trades to the arts and sciences, from blue collar to white collar work, while raising their children to surpass their own achievements as befits the American horizon, we urge you to visit a Mosque before November 4, 2008.”

The letter is published in its entirety below.

Who: Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader
What: Press conference
Where: Grand Mosque Islamic Center, 2551 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20008
When: Friday, October 3, at 11 a.m.
——
Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008

Senator John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Senator Barack Obama
713 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Sens. McCain and Obama,

Visits to religious institutions are certainly not a requirement for candidates running for public office. We are a country dedicated to the separation of church and state. This does not mean that candidates cannot visit churches, synagogues and mosques by way of expressing respect and tolerance which are the essence of freedom of religion and civil rights safeguarded by our Constitution. According to the New York Times, both of you, Senator McCain and Senator Obama, have visited churches and synagogues during your long campaigns for the Presidency. Neither of you have visited a mosque. As you know, discriminatory acts against Muslim-Americans have soared in recent years. They emanate from stereotyping, ethnic profiling, bigotry and, unfortunately, actions by some local, state & federal officials. The documentation is broad and deep on this unfortunate situation that spreads fear and anxiety among millions of Muslim-Americans. Concerns over ethnic and religious prejudice caused President George W. Bush to visit the Grand Mosque in Washington DC just days after 9/11 and express the proper sentiments in public. Out of respect for Muslim-Americans who have served in all the dimensions of our society from the professions to the armed forces, from the trades to the arts and sciences, from blue collar to white collar work, while raising their children to surpass their own achievements as befits the American horizon, we urge you to visit a Mosque before November 4, 2008. You can, in this declarative manner, reassure these Americans of your concern and recognition of their civil rights and civil liberties and the need for religious and ethnic tolerance that you believe to be the binding practices that hold our multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation together. Your affirmative response would be welcomed. Sincerely yours, Ralph Nader

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