Islamist Radicalization: Myth or Reality?

Islamist Radicalization: Myth or Reality?




November 16, 2011 (WASHINGTON) – Tomorrow, November 17, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, will sponsor a briefing on Capitol Hill to explore the viewpoints of representatives from the Brennan Center for Justice, Center for American Progress, and the American Civil Liberties Union. The briefing is entitled: “Islamist Radicalization: Myth or Reality?”



In recent months, an active national debate concerning the existence of “violent Islamist radicalization” within the United States and among U.S. citizens has been revived. Recent media reports have detailed partnerships between the New York City Police Department and the Central Intelligence Agency. Federal funds have been used to train local police officers in clandestine intelligence-gathering practices deployed in predominantly Muslim-American neighborhoods, raising serious questions about the constitutionality, practicality, and effectiveness of these surveillance tactics. Additionally, private funding sources have supported entities that encourage the belief in a domestic threat of Islamist radicalization within the United States . Unfortunately, this incendiary atmosphere has failed to provide a forum for rational, fact-based discussion of the possible extent of radicalization and potential methods to address it. This forum will lay the foundation for such a discussion.





Briefing:

Islamist Radicalization: Myth or Reality?



Thursday, November 17 at 3pm



Rayburn House Office Building, Room B-340



Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, sponsor



Briefing Panelists:

Laura Murphy

Director, Washington Legislative Office

American Civil Liberties Union



Tara McGuiness

Vice President and Director of the Think Progress War Room

Center for American Progress



Faiza Patel

Co-Director, Liberty and National Security Program

Brennan Center for Justice



Hilary Shelton (moderator)

Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy

NAACP



Refreshments will be provided





Please RSVP by contacting Hope Goins at:

hope.goins@mail.house.gov or 202-226-2616.