This is the archived version of MPAC's website. For the latest updates, visit mpac.org.
This is the archived version of MPAC's website. For the latest updates, visit mpac.org.
This is the archived version of MPAC's website. For the latest updates, visit mpac.org.
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Former LAPD Deputy Chief Mike Downing on Police Reform, Counterterrorism & ICE

Videos
civil liberties
Community Policing
Consent Decree
Counterterrorism
dr. maher hathout
ICE Reform
lapd
mike downing
mpac
muslim public affairs council
Police Reform
public safety
salam al-marayati
The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati
On August 25, 2026 By MPAC
In this episode of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with longtime colleague Mike Downing, former LAPD Deputy Chief and head of the Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau. Reflecting on a 35-year law enforcement career spanning the 1965 Watts Riots to the 1992 Los Angeles Uprising, Downing breaks down what it takes to build authentic community-led policing, why federal consent decrees were essential to institutional LAPD reform, and the critical difference between local community police and militarized agencies like ICE. Salam and Mike also engage in a direct, candid discussion regarding post-9/11 counterterrorism policies, intelligence gathering, the roots of radicalization, and the ongoing stigmatization of American Muslim civil rights organizations. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction & 35 Years on the LAPD Force 03:56 - Smart Policing vs. Hunting & Pursuing 08:32 - The 1992 Uprising, Christopher Commission & Federal Consent Decree 12:12 - America’s Homelessness Failure & Systemic Solutions 16:36 - Defund the Police Debate & Quasi-Military Structures 19:12 - Suspicious Activity Reporting, Intelligence & Community Trust 28:23 - Comparing Gang Dynamics to Counterterrorism & Radicalization 30:08 - The Problem with ICE: Excessive Force & Lack of Accountability 36:47 - Civil Rights Engagement: CAIR, MPAC & The Legacy of Dr. Maher Hathout Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.
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Haris Tarin Responds to Jake Lang Intimidation in Dearborn

Videos
civil rights
community advocacy
Dearborn Michigan
haris tarin
Haris Tarin MPAC
Jake Lang
Michigan Politics
mpac
muslim public affairs council
Voter Protection
voting rights
On August 20, 2026 By MPAC
Haris Tarin, Vice President of Policy and Programming at MPAC, responds to targeted intimidation attempts against the American Muslim community in Dearborn, Michigan. Tarin outlines MPAC's national initiative alongside civil rights and interfaith partners to protect ballot access and ensure every community member can exercise their constitutional rights freely. Subscribe to the channel for ongoing civil rights updates and community advocacy breakdowns. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.
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Salam Al-Marayati Calls Out Trump’s “Jihadist” Slur

Videos
Abdul El Sayed
donald trump
Healthcare Reform
Midterm Elections
mpac
muslim public affairs council
Policy Debate
Political Accountability
Rule of Law
salam al-marayati
The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati
On August 16, 2026 By MPAC
In this clip from The MPAC Podcast, Salam Al-Marayati reacts to Donald Trump using the term "jihadist" to describe Democratic candidates like Abdul El-Sayed. Salam breaks down how political leaders use identity smears and attacks on immigrant communities to deflect from core issues like healthcare access, foreign policy, and government accountability. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.
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Salam Al-Marayati Rebuts Trump’s “Jihadist” Comments

Videos
Abdul El Sayed
donald trump
Electoral Politics
mpac
muslim public affairs council
Pluralism
Rule of Law
salam al-marayati
Separation of Powers
The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati
US Constitution
On August 16, 2026 By MPAC
"The presidency has limited powers. The Constitution is about the separation of powers - we do not want an imperial presidency." When politicians cannot defend their record on the economy, healthcare, or foreign policy, they turn to ancient playbook tactics: racial scapegoating and religious slurs. On The MPAC Podcast, Salam Al-Marayati addresses Donald Trump's rhetoric labeling political opponents as "jihadists". Instead of engaging in policy debates with candidates like Abdul El-Sayed over universal healthcare or foreign military spending, politicians use manufactured culture wars to divide communities. American democracy depends on upholding the rule of law and enforcing constitutional checks on executive overreach. We must stay focused on the issues that actually impact everyday Americans: affordable healthcare, ending endless wars, and demanding representative governance. Why do you think voters continue to see identity-based attacks during election cycles instead of real debates on policy? Share your thoughts below.Instagram CTA:Tap the link in our bio to listen to the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple #MPACPodcast #SalamAlMarayati #RuleOfLaw #ConstitutionalRights #ElectoralPolitics #FactCheck #CivilRights Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.
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Connie Rice: “I’m Not Fighting for Civil Rights Right Now”

Videos
authoritarianism
Civil Rights Movement
connie rice
Constitutional Rights
E Pluribus Unum
mpac
muslim public affairs council
Pluralist Democracy
Political Power
salam al-marayati
The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati
On August 13, 2026 By MPAC
In this clip from The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati asks civil rights legend Connie Rice about the lack of structured strategy, negotiation, and reconciliation in modern protests. Connie delivers a powerful reality check on the current "order of battle": before we can fight for policy reform or civil rights, we must first defend the core constitutional framework against rising authoritarianism. Watch full podcast episodes and policy breakdowns on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Links in the description!
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Connie Rice: Why Lawsuits & Protests Aren’t Enough to Save Democracy

Videos
Civil Rights Lawyer
Civil Rights Movement
Community Policing
connie rice
Constance Rice
LAPD Reform
Legal Strategy
Los Angeles Politics
mpac
muslim public affairs council
Police Reform
Project 2025
Protest to Power
Public Safety Reform
salam al-marayati
Systemic Change
The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati
Violence Reduction
On August 12, 2026 By MPAC
In this powerful episode of The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati sits down with nationally acclaimed civil rights attorney and activist Constance L. "Connie" Rice. Having won over $10 billion in class action settlements and policy changes - including the largest civil rights settlement in U.S. history - Connie Rice shares why winning in court wasn't enough when her clients were still dying in the streets. She breaks down her shift from suing the LAPD to partnering with them to pioneer public health community policing, the limits of court litigation, and why modern protest movements fail when they aren't tied to power infrastructure. Salam and Connie also dive deep into the current threat of authoritarianism, structural economic inequality, and what it takes to protect the constitutional order. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction & Connie Rice’s Legacy 01:41 - Winning Lawsuits While Clients Were Dying 03:28 - From Suing the LAPD to Transforming Police Culture 11:23 - Why the 1960s Civil Rights Playbook Doesn't Fit Today 18:18 - Analyzing the Authoritarian Threat & Systemic Disinvestment 23:15 - Protests vs. Power: The Pitfalls of Modern Movements 32:42 - Grocery Bills, Economic Despair & Political Realities 50:41 - Gaza, Media Coverage, and U.S. Foreign Policy Double Standards 01:10:03 - Why Los Angeles Politics Fail Everyday Citizens Subscribe & Follow: Subscribe to MPAC on YouTube for more long-form conversations and analysis. Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. Learn more at [mpac.org]. Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.
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Connie Rice on Abdul El Sayed

Videos
Abdul El Sayed
Black Voters
civil rights
connie rice
Democratic Party Machine
Electoral Strategy
mpac
muslim public affairs council
Political Coalition
salam al-marayati
The MPAC Podcast with Salam Al-Marayati
On August 11, 2026 By MPAC
In this clip from The MPAC Podcast, host Salam Al-Marayati and civil rights attorney Connie Rice unpack the coalition dynamics between Arab American progressive candidates and Black voters. Reflecting on political campaigns like Abdul El-Sayed's, Connie Rice explains why highly educated progressive platforms often miss working-class Black constituencies. She outlines how political outsiders must approach trusted community leaders with humility, respect historical struggles, and present a clear, actionable agenda to bridge political divides. Watch full podcast episodes and policy breakdowns on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Links in the description! Subscribe to MPAC's channel: http://bit.ly/MPACYouTube Like MPAC on Facebook: http://fb.com/mpacnational Follow MPAC on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mpac_national Follow MPAC on Instagram: http://instagram.com/mpac_national Visit MPAC's website: http://mpac.org About the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) We improve public understanding and policies that impact American Muslims by engaging our government, media, and communities. Help us to continue this work by making a donation today: http://mpac.org/give.
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