BY JESSICA JENKINS
TED Talks presents this conversation with Phyllis Rodriguez and Aicha el-Wafi, mothers who formed an unlikely friendship in the wake of unspeakable loss.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKQA6I4BA7o
More from TED talks about the two women:
"Phyllis Rodriguez is an artist, a teacher and a social justice activist. On September 11, 2001, her son Greg died in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Rodriguez and her husband wrote an open letter, "Not in Our Son's Name," calling on President Bush to oppose a military response in Afghanistan.
"Aicha el-Wafi is an activist with the French feminist group Ni Putes Ni Soumise, working with Muslim women. Her son, Zacarias Moussaoui, was tried in relation to the attacks on US soil, and faced the possibility of execution if convicted.
"In November 2002, Phyllis Rodriguez and several other relatives of victims of the attacks were invited to meet Aicha el-Wafi. Rodriguez and el-Wafi have since appeared together throughout Europe and the US, telling their story of reconciliation and forgiveness.
'Our suffering is equal. Yet I'm treated with sympathy; she is treated with hostility.'
- Phyllis Rodriguez, on Aicha el-Wafi"
People of faith all over the country are calling their Senators, but it's Kentucky's Senator Rand Paul who has positioned himself as the key person who can pass an immigration bill in the Senate and the House. Join people of faith calling on Rand Paul to prioritize justice for immigrant families and a path to citizenship NOW.
Click to learn about the campaign to provide "safe sanctuaries" to the LGBTQ Community in our faith communities in response to a rising trend of hate crimes toward the LGBTQ Community in NYC and beyond.
Our legislators in NY are debating a bill that can help fight sex trafficking. Join the petition calling on Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to support theTrafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act.
While the Senate debates, there's 1 deportation a minute in America. Read this impassioned blog by Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper, Senior Minister at Judson Memorial Church, and member of the New Sanctuary Movement.
Our report back to you about how things are going, what we’ve learned, and what we think is next for Groundswell and Auburn Action.
Breaking news! On Wednesday afternoon, an FBI advisory policy board voted to track hate crimes against Sikh, Hindu, and Arab Americans. We did this together!
