Palestine in Context: Know Your Civil Rights Workshop | Lina Seikh, Riyad Sood, and Usmaan Alloo
Channel: Muslim Community Center - MCC East Bay
Date: 01/11/2023

– Resource guide for this workshop: https://ca.cair.com/sfba/palestine-resource-guide
– More CAIR-MCC co-sponsored talks & events: http://mcceastbay.org/cair
– More talks about Palestine: http://mcceastbay.org/palestinian

In this Know Your Rights/Community Safety workshop, CAIR-SFBA is provides training for students and parents in light of the most recent atrocities on our brothers and sisters in Palestine. American Muslims, especially Muslim children in public schools, are facing a mass influx of Islamophobia and harassment because of it. 

Learn how to practice your rights regarding bullying in school (both in relation to Palestine and just in general) and when protesting. 

This workshop was delivered at the Muslim Community Center - East Bay (MCC East Bay) in Pleasanton, California on Monday, October 30, 2023.

About the speakers
LINA SEIKH, IMMIGRANTS’ RIGHTS ATTORNEY
Lina Seikh is part of a dynamic team at CAIR-SFBA, where she is currently honored to serve the American Muslim community as an Immigrants’ Rights Attorney. 

Lina graduated from University of Texas at Austin with a degree in neuroscience and South Asian Studies. While in college, she also served as a volunteer English teacher in Nepal, studied Urdu, and interned twice at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. 

She then graduated from St. Mary’s University of Law, where she concurrently pursued a master’s in international relations with a focus on conflict resolution. While in law school, she interned at an Immigration and Human Rights Clinic, was a research assistant for The Center for Terrorism Law, and volunteered for the Restorative Rights Initiative. While pursuing her master’s in international relations, she also studied conflict resolution in Occupied Palestine. 

Throughout her career, Lina has worked with non-profit organizations and indigent clients in different capacities. She is a passionate advocate for civil rights, human rights, and gender equality. In her spare time, Lina loves spending time with her family, hiking, reading, art, meditation, and alternative healing.  

RIYAD SOOD, PARALEGAL
Riyad Sood is a paralegal for the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA) where he assists attorneys dealing with immigration and civil matters. Riyad’s background is in healthcare and non-profit law.

He has negotiated hospital reimbursement Fees with healthcare plans and has reviewed hospital contracts with providers that are subject to ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act). While at the California Department of Justice Attorney General’s Office Riyad worked alongside attorneys in civil litigation, audits, and investigations ensuring California nonprofits conduct themselves according to state law.

Riyad received his BSL from Irvine University College of Law and received his degree in paralegal studies from Fremont College as the class valedictorian.

USMAAN ALLOO, PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
Usmaan Alloo is the Programs Coordinator for the San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA). In this position, he leads CAIR-SFBA’s signature programs including youth programs, workshops, the internship and volunteer programs, and much more!

Usmaan received his Bachelor of Arts as a double major in Political Science: International Affairs, as well as Middle Eastern/Islamic Studies from the University of California, Riverside. Where he graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors. As a student he participated in a research program with the Islamic Studies department, focused on analyzing the rise of Islamophobia across social media, government legislation, and the fashion industry. He was also an organizer for the American Muslim Futures art exhibit in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the successful day of action for Muhammad Muhaymin Jr.

Usmaan is an artivist, passionate for building solidarity through artistic expression, political education, and the concept of linked fate. He believes that placing art at the center of political activism is the solution to healing and bridging divides within our community. Usmaan is also a staunch prison abolitionist.

In his free time Usmaan enjoys coaching youth baseball, water-painting, and baking cookies to share with his colleagues.

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