AMP-Southern California hosts inaugural banquet

A diverse audience enjoyed Arabic food and sweets as well as riveting talks by area Muslim leaders on June 24 during the inaugural banquet for AMP-Southern California in Westminster.

The focus of much of the evening was the formation of AMP’s newest chapter and leaders from several organizations were on hand to offer a few remarks to encourage the audience to become involved in the only major organization dedicating 100 percent of its time and resources to the cause of Palestine.

Esteemed speakers included Sheikh Mustafa Kamel, imam of Masjid Al-Ansar; Dr. Maher Hathout, a leading community activist; Shakeel Syed, executive director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California and AMP national board member; Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations Southern California; and Sheikh Kifah Mustafa, associate imam of the Mosque Foundation of Bridgeview. Activist, author and co-founder of Electronic Intifada, Ali Abunimah, was the keynote speaker. AMP staff who spoke were Taher Herzallah, West Coast regional development coordinator; Awad Hamdan, national programs director; and Kristin Szremski, national director of media and communications.

The dinner took place after a daylong high school training event at the University of California-Irvine. About 50 students from Muslim Student Association high school chapters came together for the training, organized by AMP-So Cal in conjunction with the High School Muslim Student Association.