Tag Archives: fear mongering

Veterans Against Islamaphophia

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Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Human Rights First
Amount: $200,000 in 2016

What is Human Rights First?

Human Rights First is an independent advocacy and action organization that challenges America to live up to its ideals. This grant will support HRF’s work to organize retired military leaders and other veterans to speak out against Islamophobia and promote the argument that anti-Muslim speech and policies are fundamentally un-American.

Why do we think this project is important?

We believe the United States is an inclusive nation and at its best when it embraces diversity and champions human rights. This project will address the recent rise in Islamophobia, xenophobia, and subsequent divisive rhetoric in the United States. Through its Veterans for American Ideals platform, Human Rights First is uniquely suited to engage retired military leaders and veterans to participate in this discourse and encourage meaningful change.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting Human Rights First?

In 2016, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $200,000 to Human Rights First.

Strategies for American Muslim Communities

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Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
Amount: $52,238 in 2016

What is the The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding?

The Institute  for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU) conducts objective, solution-seeking research that empowers American Muslims to further community development and fully contribute to democracy and pluralism in the United States. This grant will support ISPU so that it can provide research support to a convening of a diverse group of leaders and experts to develop strategies to combat fear mongering against the American Muslim community.

Why do we think a convening on Anti-Muslim rhetoric is a important?

This project will address the deterioration of civil discourse that is damaging our democracy’s political process. While other groups have joined together to attempt to combat this rhetoric, the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding has unique networks and capacity to help bring together the people who can most effectively address this serious problem.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting ISPU?

In 2016, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $52,238 to The Institute for Social Policy Understanding.

ReThink Media’s Security and Rights Collaborative

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Type of Activity: Project
Grantee: Rethink Media’s Security and Rights Collaborative
Amount: $500,000 in 2016

What is the Security and Rights Collaborative?

ReThink Media’s Security and Rights collaborative builds the communications capacity of nonprofit think tanks, experts, and advocacy groups working toward the protection of human and civil rights. Democracy Fund Voice’s grant supports the Collaborative’s efforts to combat political fear mongering in our public discourse by developing and deploying new messaging strategies for the American Muslim community via collaborations with related experts and advocacy groups.

Why do we think this project is important?

We believe rhetoric that dehumanizes and isolates specific groups of people in our society weakens our democracy. In recent years, political leaders from both parties have exploited public fear in the wake of terrorist attacks in Paris, San Bernardino, and Orlando, in ways that breed prejudice and xenophobia. Through this project, ReThink Media will combat political fear mongering and provide a voice for those who are being targeted by these attacks.

How is Democracy Fund Voice supporting the Security and Rights Collaborative?

In 2016, Democracy Fund Voice approved a grant of $500,000 to ReThink Media’s Security and Rights Collaborative’s message research, refinement, and deployment to respond to the escalation of anti-Muslim bigotry.