The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign: Standing with American Muslims, Advancing American Ideals is a national multifaith coalition of religious denominations and faith-based organizations who are committed to ending anti-Muslim hatred, discrimination, and violence in the United States of America.

Vision

The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign envisions a pluralistic and inclusive United States of America where all people are treated respectfully, fairly, and with dignity.

Mission

The Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign connects, equips, and mobilizes faith communities in the United States of America as strategic partners in countering, addressing, and preventing anti-Muslim hatred, discrimination, and violence.

Why We Exist: Understanding the Problem

Discrimination, violence and bias against Muslims in the US are driven by several factors, including disproportionately negative media coverage of Muslims, negative political rhetoric, and a well-funded industry aimed at spreading misinformation and fear. Additionally, the discrimination and violence aimed at Muslims is a part of our country’s long history of racism directed towards Black Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and others. It is also fed by some of the same forces that fuel anti-Semitism and other forms of religious-based bigotry.

Anti-Muslim discrimination is not just theoretical. The widespread misinformation and fear lead to hate crimes, vandalism, bullying, and other forms of violence against Muslims, along with anti-Muslim legislation that curtails the civil rights and freedoms of Americans who are Muslim. The effects of anti-Muslim rhetoric and views have devastating impacts on our neighbors who are Muslim and those who are perceived to be Muslim, i.e. Sikh, South Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, etc..

Here's what we're doing about it.

EQUIPPING:

Shoulder to Shoulder trains, resources and empowers faith leaders to address anti-Muslim discrimination and violence within their own communities and in American society

CONNECTING:

Shoulder to Shoulder builds networks at local and national levels to advance a multi-faith infrastructure of solidarity and community resilience to discrimination and violence

MOBILIZING:

Shoulder to Shoulder mobilizes faith voices in the public square through advocacy and media efforts on anti-Muslim discrimination

Our History 

In 2010, at the height of a wave of anti-Muslim rhetoric and hate in the United States, national leadership from religious communities and faith based organizations approached the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) to address this crisis.

They organized 40 heads of Christian, Jewish and other religious denominations and faith-based organizations, including the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, the Union for Reform Judaism, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, The Episcopal Church, the National Council of Churches, and many more at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.. The groups convened to publicly commit themselves to standing against anti-Muslim discrimination and to work toward the American ideals of religious freedom and pluralism. The meeting, which included a press conference and the release of a joint statement, gave birth to Shoulder to Shoulder, and many of the faith groups present joined the organization as founding members shortly thereafter. The joint statement and the founding organizations can be viewed here.

Rev. Richard Kilmer and Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi served as co-chairs of the organization for several years and provided leadership as the organization structure was created and grew in capacity. In the early years, the co-founders convened the denominations and other religious organizations listed above, raised funds for the organization, secured ISNA as the fiscal and administrative agent, hired staff, and provided leadership to programmatic efforts. The founding organizations continue to play an important role in Shoulder to Shoulder. Their commitment to the organization, from the beginning, has been critical to the significant impact the Campaign has been able to have as an interfaith coalition. Several representatives from founding organizations serve on the Executive Committee as a sign of continued support and leadership.

Read our Ten Year Anniversary Report and watch our anniversary conversation series videos.

"The Shoulder to Shoulder campaign is the institutional embodiment of the biblical injunction to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Wherever hate speech and incitement against Islam and other religions erupts, Shoulder to Shoulder stands firm to teach love instead of hate. S2S enacts American values in an interfaith coalition and so, reinforces the great fabric of America."

— Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky, Ph.D.

Director, Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue, Jewish Theological Seminary