This document discusses strategies to combat Islamophobia in the US. It describes how Islamophobia is structurally manufactured through groups that promote prejudice against Islam and influence legislation and government training materials. It introduces the "Our Muslim Neighbor" project which aims to change hearts and minds about Muslims through personal contact, knowledge, and new perspectives. The project focuses on fighting negative external violence through rapid response and positioning religious leaders, while constructing positive images of Muslims through education, training, and interaction opportunities. The Nashville branch works on developing a rapid response toolkit, training spokespeople, and arranging interactions between police and the Muslim community.

1. Combating Islamophobia
The Structural Manufacture & “Our Muslim
Neighbor” Project

2. Muslim Sikh Muslim

3. Islamophobia in US
Scale from 1 to 10
10 – representing the worst possible
situation for Muslims
1 – representing an America free of
Islamophobia

4. Hate Crimes
(Case 1) (Case 2)
(Case 3)

5. The Structural Manufacture (1)
Inner Core – groups whose primary
purpose is to regularly promote
prejudice against or hatred of Islam
and Muslims
Outer Core – groups whose primary
purpose does not appear to include
anti-Muslim themes but regularly
support Islamophobic rhetoric
•“Islam is not a religion.”
•“Islam is an extremist religion.”
•“All Muslims are violent
extremists.”
•“Muslims and Shariah are
taking over America.”
•“The Muslim Brotherhood is the
driving force behind every
Muslim.”

6. The Structural Manufacture (2)
Legislation:
•4 Bills or Amendments
Passed
•6 States with Anti-Islam
Laws on Books
Training in the US Government:
Anti-Muslim trainers
serving law
enforcement and
military personnel
Inaccurate materials
used for training
programs

7.  Changing +
Our Muslim Neighbor
Hearts
Personal Contact
Meet a Muslim
Minds
Knowledge
New Perspectives

8. Hearts and
Minds
OMN

9. Collective Impact
1. Common Agenda
2. Shared Measurements
3. Mutually Reinforcing Actions
4. Continuous Communications
5. Backbone Support

10. Our Muslim Neighbor in
Nashville
-- Fighting against Negative External Violence:
1. Developing a Toolkit of Rapid Response
2. Positioning religious leaders in public forums
3. Training local and national spokespeople
-- Constructing positive image of Muslims
1. Distributing educational information
2. Training police officers, public representatives and teachers
3. Arranging opportunities for positive and productive interactions