WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7 PM ET, Muslim Advocates will host the Muslims Making Change: National Honors ceremony—featuring a special address to American Muslims from former Vice President Joe Biden. The free, virtual event will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Muslim Advocates’ founding and honor American Muslims who have made a positive impact on their communities on the defining issues of 2020, including racial justice, civic engagement and COVID relief. Honorees include the family of a Black Muslim man killed by police officers in Arizona, an advocate for meatpacking plant workers in South Dakota, and a voting rights advocates in Georgia.

• Get your free tickets to the Muslims Making Change ceremony here

“In a time when good news is hard to come by, the heroes we are honoring at the Muslims Making Change: National Honors ceremony give us a reason to celebrate,” said Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera. “Vice President Biden will speak directly to American Muslims on the issues most affecting us, and our honorees and speakers will celebrate advocacy, organizing and community service. We urge American Muslims and allies to register and join us at this important celebration.”

Featured presenters include:

• Joe Biden—47th vice president of the United States and current Democratic presidential candidate
• Maya Harris—lawyer, advocate and sister of Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris
• Dr. Abdul El-Sayed—physician, epidemiologist, public health expert and progressive activist.
• Todd A. Cox—program director at Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
• Aziz Z. Huq—professor of law at the University of Chicago and former clerk to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Qasim Rashid—Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 1st congressional district
• Dr. Ibraheem Samirah—a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates and dentist 

Honorees include:

• Racial Justice Awardee Sanaa Abrar—advocacy director at United We Dream
• Racial Justice Awardees the Muhaymin Family—family of Muhammad Muhaymin Jr., a Black Muslim who was killed by Phoenix police in 2017 after attempting to bring his service dog into a public restroom
• COVID Response Awardee Taneeza Islam—co-founder and executive director of South Dakota Voices for Peace
• COVID Response Awardee Kamal Eldeirawi—epidemiologist at the University of Illinois-Chicago College of Nursing and a Board Member of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
• Civil Society Awardee Daisy Maldonado—director of the Empowerment Congress of Doña Ana County, New Mexico
• Civil Society Awardee Umer Rupani—executive director of the Georgia Muslim Voter Project
• Allyship Awardee Jessica Gonzalez—co-CEO of Free Press and co-founder of Change the Terms

Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination. 

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