Maxx Fenning

Praying for everyone at @FloridaState.

This is my formal complaint to @harrisonjaime @TheDemocrats August 23, 2024 Mr. Jaime Harrison Chair, Democratic National Committee Dear Mr. Harrison, I, Nadia Ahmad, am writing to formally bring to your attention a series of distressing incidents that occurred during and after the DNC Convention. These incidents demand swift and decisive action. Islamophobic Attack at the Convention On the opening night of the convention, I was the victim of a profoundly concerning Islamophobic attack as I peacefully protested the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As an elected member of the DNC from Florida, I was holding a banner with the words "Stop Arming Israel" when I became the target of unprovoked aggression by five members of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA). The individuals involved in this assault were: 1. Brent Booker, General President, LIUNA 2. Michael F. Sabitoni, General Secretary-Treasurer 3. Michael E. Hellstrom, LIUNA Vice President and Eastern Regional Manager 4. Oscar De La Torre, LiUNA President local 261 5. Scott Gustafson, Regional Organizing Director at LiUNA, Old Rochester Region High These men not only displayed physical aggression but their actions were wholly contrary to the values of our party. I was physically assaulted by three men while two others forcibly removed the protest banner from my hands. As a visibly identifiable Muslim woman, I feel this attack was motivated by prejudice and represents a flagrant violation of my constitutional right to free speech and peaceful assembly. Credential Revocation and Discrimination Following this incident, I faced further discrimination from the Florida Democratic Party. On August 19, after the assault, the Florida Democratic Party refused to provide me with my credentials. I spent half of Tuesday and Wednesday attempting to recover these credentials. Phillip Jerez, on behalf of Chair Nikki Fried, falsely claimed that the DNC had revoked my credentials. When I informed them that the DNC had taken no such action, they then stated that they have the discretion to withhold credentials. Furthermore, even as half of the seats in the Florida delegation remained empty, the Party failed to provide floor credentials or guest passes to me and other Muslims, including Saima Farooqui, an alternate DNC delegate. Call for Action This behavior not only imperils the safety of party members but also undermines our party's integrity and inclusivity. These incidents underscore the challenges that Muslim delegates and other marginalized communities face within our party, revealing an environment that does not consistently protect those most vulnerable to discrimination. I urgently implore the Democratic National Committee to take immediate and unequivocal action in response to these alarming incidents. I call for: 1. A formal condemnation of the attack 2. Implementation of disciplinary measures against the individuals involved 3. Establishment of policies and procedures to ensure the safety and inclusion of Muslim delegates and other marginalized groups at future events 4. An investigation into the credential revocation and discriminatory practices of the Florida Democratic Party Our party must reassert its dedication to creating an environment where all members feel secure, respected, and empowered to express their views without fear of retribution. We cannot allow such actions to go unchallenged, as they strike at the very core of what we stand for as Democrats. I will use all legal avenues available to address this matter if it is not resolved satisfactorily. I anticipate your immediate response and the necessary steps to address these urgent matters. Sincerely, Nadia Ahmad Florida DNC Member DNC Interfaith Council Co-Chair DNC Women's Caucus Executive Committee