FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2021
Contact: media@poligonnational.org
​Poligon Condemns White Supremacist Attack on the U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. - Poligon Education Fund released the following statement regarding the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol by white supremacist militias in an attempt to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election: 

Poligon Education Fund condemns the violence inflicted by white supremacist militias and supporters of President Trump at the halls of Congress yesterday. A woman was shot and killed, our elected officials and their staff hid in their chambers as they prayed for their lives, and explosives and weapons were found on Capitol grounds. The attack on the Capitol is an attack on our democracy and on the American people. 

The violence we witnessed is an attempt to erase the fact that in the midst of a pandemic, millions of Americans have turned out in record numbers to vote against the last four years of divisive, racist governance. Even when a powerful few have continuously made it difficult for people to exercise their voting rights, marginalized communities spoke truth to power. In the face of intimidation, violence, and loss, voters reaffirmed their rights and echoed their voices in the halls of power. Poligon, alongside coalition partners and allies, has mobilized millions of voters and will not stand down in the face of this insurrection. 

We commend Congress for its steadfastness in completing the vote count and certifying the election results. We demand members of Congress continue to work towards the peaceful transition of the newly elected administration, and ensure an extensive investigation and full accountability of all groups involved in the white supremacist militant attack, including leaders who have repeatedly empowered  this hateful rhetoric. President Trump’s failure to condemn white supremacy and his previous command to “stand back and stand by” did not only fuel an attack on our Capitol, but also paved the way for violence in statehouses all around the nation. 

The striking difference in the law enforcement’s efforts to protect the Capitol against Black Lives Matter defenders in June of 2020 and against white supremacist militias yesterday is a reminder of the deep, systemic violence harming our communities. We honor the victims of white supremacist violence and recognize the militarized, selective, and racist law enforcement practices. When exercising their right to protest, Black Lives Matter activists and indigenous rights defenders were met with police dogs, mace, militarized surveillance, rubber bullets, and water cannons. Not too long ago, black and brown children were tear gassed at peaceful protests. 

Poligon reaffirms its commitment to continue to hold our newly elected Congress and administration to account, to not only tackle the hateful rhetoric that threatens our communities, but also build a nation that keeps its people safe and allows everyone to thrive. This begins with coming together to swear in new leaders elected by the people, for the people.  

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Poligon Education Fund is a non profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to strengthening Muslim American engagement with Congress through training, education, and advocacy. Learn more at www.poligonnational.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2020
​Contact: media@poligonnational.org

Washington, D.C. - Poligon Education Fund released the following statement on the congressional passage of COVID-19 relief legislation: 

Poligon Education Fund reaffirms its commitment to amplifying the most vulnerable populations and minority groups in the halls of power. After months of tireless advocacy efforts and a long stalemate in Congress, Poligon supports the release of immediate relief, but recognizes the shortcomings of the bipartisan $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill. 

Poligon applauds the following provisions in the package:

• Additional $300 per week through unemployment insurance and a federal unemployment insurance 
• $284 billion in loans for businesses 
• $69 billion in testing and vaccine distribution funds  
• $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools.
• $25 billion in rental assistance and a one-month extension of the eviction moratorium
• $20 billion for hospitals and healthcare providers
• $13 billion in food assistance
  • Increases SNAP benefits by 15% for 6 months
  • Ensures college students have access to SNAP
  • Additional funding for food banks and senior nutrition programs
  • Emergency funds for school and day care feeding programs

We recognize that the current relief package falls far from providing adequate and just recovery to vulnerable communities. Almost a year later, marginalized populations including black, indigeneous, people of color, and immigrant communities who have been systematically struggling prior to the coronavirus pandemic continue to be the most impacted. The relief package also dismisses adult dependents, some of whom suffer from disabilities. It repairs the cruel exclusion of 3.5 million citizens who reside with families of “mixed immigration statuses,” but once again fails to include millions of undocumented individuals in the economic relief, many of whom serve as frontline workers. 

Poligon’s Policy and Advocacy Manager, Johanna Mustafa, issued the following statement: 
“We are a nation of abundance and wealth where struggling families deserve urgent and lasting change. As we move forward with a new Congress in 2021, Poligon will continue to work towards the inclusion of vulnerable communities. While we support the economic relief this package will provide, we recognize that the American people need more help than this bill provides. Poligon urges Congress to pass another round of direct stimulus checks to help families who have been struggling for months. Our tax dollars must be invested in our communities and center the domestic human needs and rights of our people.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26th, 2020
Contact: info@poligonnational.org

Poligon Education Fund Joins Muslim Coalition to Share Results of ‘Muslims in America Policy Poll’
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday a coalition of national Muslim organizations released the results of their pre-election “Muslims in America Policy Poll” – an online survey of 1,500 Muslims in America that highlights issue and policy priorities of the Muslim community just months before the 2020 General Election. 

READ THE SURVEY: https://www.poligonnational.org/resources.html

WATCH THE LIVESTREAM PRESENTATION: https://www.facebook.com/406859649705218/videos/600924637260465/

Highlights of survey results, announced at a livestream news conference, include:

• In asking what general issues were the most pressing priorities for Muslim Americans, the poll found civil rights (over 80%) was the greatest priority followed by healthcare (over 65%); education; foreign policy; immigration; climate change, energy, and the environment; economy, national security; and other.
• American Muslims have prioritize issue areas similarly to non-Muslim allies such as Civil Rights and Healthcare.
• Over 60% of Muslim respondents would like to see policy changes to the Muslim Ban, which allows vast immigration restrictions for travelers from several Muslim-predominate countries.
• Over 45% of Muslim respondents would like to see policy changes in these four areas: international humanitarian, religious discrimination, Medicare for all, and gun control.
• Among the various age groups examined, most ages agreed they would like to see a policy change to the Muslim Ban. Over 75% of seventy and over age group of Muslim respondents agree that they want to see a policy change with the Muslim Ban.
• In the key battleground states of Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, heading into the election — the issues of Civil Rights, Healthcare, Immigration and Education prove to be the biggest issue area of concern for Muslims.

The report also noted that in a separate voter report published by Emgage, just from Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Virginia alone Muslim turnout jumped from about 130,000 votes to over 285,000 from 2014 to 2018.
 
Report sponsors plan to use the results of this report to engage candidates, elected officials, to advocate for policy reforms that serve the best interests of the Muslim community in America.

ABOUT THE POLL:
 
The poll’s 1500 respondents reflected a snapshot of the diverse Muslim community— comprising of African American/Black, Arab/Middle Eastern, South Asians and White community members from over 45 states.
 
The poll was conducted online over the course of January 2020-June 2020, just ahead of the November elections. The poll’s responses that survey participants could choose from on “pressing policy issues” and “policy changes” that respondents wanted to see were predetermined and presented without any politicizing context.
 
The highest percentage of participants of the survey were between the ages of 40-54 (21%) and 55-69 (17%). In contrast, the lowest percentage of respondents were under the age of 18. The poll was conducted online over the course of January 2020-June 2020, just ahead of the November elections.