Who Supports ISNA? The Arab American Institute

Special Announcement

Statement by Dr. Jim Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute

January 18, 2008

Dr. Ingrid Mattson,

I am delighted to learn that you will offer a prayer at the National Cathedral Inaugural Prayer Service.

The organizers of the program must be commended for their wise choice.

Your leadership is being recognized and the rightful place of Islam in American life is being acknowledged.

Barack Obama's election marks a turning point in our nation's history - making our rejection of racial division and the birth of a "more perfect union".

We still have a ways to go. But I have hope that we can move forward to eliminate prejudice and intolerance, in all their forms, and to create a more just and caring nation.

You are a part of this great effort and for that I want to, once again, express my thanks to you, for all you do, and to the Inaugural Committee for choosing you to represent America's Muslims on the day our nation kneels before God asking for His blessing on our new President.

May the unity of purpose we will demonstrate on the 20th and 21st remain with us all during the next four years.