CAIR-Chicago's 8th Annual Banquet, themed 'A Future Without Bigotry', will be held on Saturday March 3rd, 2012 at 6 p.m. CST at the Drury Lane Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. We will be awarding members and supporters of the Muslim-American community for their courage in defending the civil and constitutional rights of Muslim-Americans, and Americans as a whole. The Annual event marks the largest and most diverse event for Muslims in the state of Illinois, and one of the largest in the nation.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

We are proud to announce Professor John Esposito as the keynote speaker for our 8th Annual Banquet. Professor Esposito is considered the premiere US academic authority on Islam; he teaches religion, international Affairs, and Islamic studies at Georgetown University, and has also served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of State. Click here to learn more about Professor Esposito.

AWARDEES

Edina Lekovic, the current Director of Policy and Programming at the Muslim Public Affairs Council, will be honored with the CAIR-Chicago Trailblazer award for her courageous work as as a national spokesperson for Muslim-Americans. Click here to learn more about Edina Lekovic.

Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez represents his constituents in Illinois’ Fourth District in Chicago. He is the first Latino to be elected to the US Congress from the Midwest and the top Latino elected official in the United States of America. Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez's inspirational and tireless work as a national leader for Latino and immigrant communities, as well as for immigration reform, has included battles that expand citizenship education. Click here to learn more about Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez.

Other awardees at the banquet will include: Sikander Novelist Salahuddin Khan (Book Award) and Sheikh Kifah Mustapha of the Mosque Foundation (Mobilizer Award). Laith Saud, Visiting Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies at DePaul University, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Additionally, Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy will address the audience regarding police/Muslim relations.

Click here to read more about the event speakers and awardees.

Please email ghankerson@cair.com for complimentary media passes.