While negative stereotypes of Muslim women are perpetuated through the media, it becomes important to challenge them. This article is the second in a two-part series that dispels common myths that skew the public’s perception of Muslim women.

On March 5th and 6th, CAIR-Chicago participated in CAIR’s 6th Annual Advocacy Days on Capitol Hill. Leaders from more than 20 CAIR offices from across the nation met with Congressional offices representing their home states to draw support against racial profiling and guaranteed protection of due process for all individuals.

A feeling of suspicion has swept over American-Muslims, leaving some distrustful of others in their own community.

This presentation is part of a series of events by The University of Chicago Kashmir Society, which is raising awareness of this complex issue and seeking solutions for different aspects of this conflict.

Among the over 1200 attendees were Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez, MPAC spokeswoman Edina Lekovich, author Salahuddin Khan, Sheikh Kifah Mustapha, and Professor John Esposito.

McCarthy is the first Chicago Police Superintendent to have attended a CAIR-Chicago annual banquet, according to CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab. Rehab said even if McCarthy knew of the spying effort in Newark, he believes that McCarthy did not intend to target Muslims maliciously.

For the first time in public, Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy promised his department will never conduct blanket surveillance of Muslims like the New York Police Department did in Newark, N.J., when he was chief there.

Members and supporters of the Muslim-American community were recognized for defending the civil and constitutional rights of Muslim- Americans, and Americans as a whole.

CAIR-Chicago’s Executive Director, Ahmed Rehab, wants Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy to clarify his position on the NYPD spying program and also to assure Muslims that a spying operation has not been implemented in Chicago.

CAIR-Chicago’s Ahmed Rehab and Sabeel Ahmed from Gain Peace discuss battling anti-Muslim rhetoric fueled by the presidential campaign by using tactics including a television ad campaign and public forums against bigotry.