 CAIR-LA is grateful to Entertainment Night sponsor,
Amana Mutual Funds,
for its generous support of the event. www.amanafunds.com
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600 Turn Out for CAIR-LA Entertainment Night for Civil Rights
 (ANAHEIM, 6/11/08) -- Some 600 people turned out on Saturday for the 4th Annual Entertainment Night for Civil Rights hosted by the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) at the Heritage Forum, Anaheim.
CAIR-LA President Fawad Yacoob welcomed attendees to an evening of clean, fun entertainment that offered the Southern California Muslim community a chance to relax and enjoy comedy and other performances while supporting CAIR's civil rights work. Comedians Preacher Moss, Azeem, Omar Regan, and Joe Recca offered a humorous look at the day-to-day challenges many Muslims face living in the U.S. post-9/11. The evening also featured a performance by turntablist Kidragon, and was emceed by Sam Pierstorff, the poet laureate of Modesto.
CAIR honored three local young people with Muslim Youth  Activism Awards for their outstanding efforts in civil, social and religious activism. The award recipients are: Adel Syed, an incoming University of California, Davis student and a resident of Rowland Heights; and Nada and Huda Kaoud, California State University San Bernardino students and residents of Moreno Valley.
Also recognized were journalists Samir and Pat Twair and
young filmmaker Lena Khan for their extraordinary efforts in building bridges and correcting stereotypes about Muslim- and Arab-Americans.
SEE: "A Land Called Paradise"
The night also included brief remarks by CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush on the status of Muslim civil rights in the U.S. Ayloush discussed the recent Southern California Muslims' trip to Manzanar, which was the first of 10 internment camps that held Japanese-Americans during World War II. A two-minute trailer on the trip was shown too.
 "It is easy to feel disheartened during difficult times, especially for Muslims who endure continued Islamophobia and challenges to their civil rights," said Ayloush, commenting on the choice to combine comedy and civil rights. "Such an entertainment night helps lift the Muslim community's spirits and boosts its morale."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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