Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Muslim Academic Wears "I'm Not A Terrorist" To Bloomberg's Interfaith Breakfast
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 30, 2011
Modified Dec 30, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 30, 2011
Modified Dec 30, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
While some Muslim leaders boycotted Mayor Bloomberg's interfaith breakfast—noting the reports that the NYPD has been spying on Muslim communities—but one Muslim academic and activist attended...and wore a t-shirt that said, "I AM NOT A TERRORIST."
Hussein Rashid explained on Religion Dispatches yesterday:
This boycott makes it obvious that while the NYPD is targeting Muslims, they are violating the rights of Americans. The issue is not a Muslim one, but an American one. My goal in going to make sure my compatriots from other faith traditions understand how serious this threat is. If I am suspect, and based on what we know of the NYPD’s scattershot approach I have no reason to believe I am not, then anyone I associate with is suspect. I intend to meet as many faith leaders as I can tomorrow and ask them how they feel about spied upon by the NYPD.Capital New York's Azi Paybarah spotted Rashid and took a photograph; Rashid later Tweeted (in response to a question from NewYorkist), "staff saw. no comment. lots of supportive comments from other interfaith leaders" and "For those interested in my T-shirt, I got it from @blacklava http://tinyurl.com/cabvw4k"
Paybarah reports that when Police Commissioner Kelly was asked about the allegations that his department was spying in Muslims, "We believe we're doing what we have to do pursuant to the law to protect the city. We understand some people may question what we do. I think some of the issues that surfaced in these articles are half-truths, are things that are not true. But we understand. That's life in the big city."
Tagged
hussein rashid
i am not a terrorist
interfaith breakfast
mayor bloomberg
muslim
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man found dead, police say, and injured woman is his mother, neighbors say
Police are investigating a related incident in which a 62-year-old woman was found injured beneath the Van Wyck Expressway.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 7:39 p.m. ET
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
News
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
By
Carol Chen
National Grid customers in NYC will see higher gas bills this winter
By
Rosemary Misdary
Bruce Blakeman joins Gov. Hochul in support for expanding NY rape law
By
Jon Campbell
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .