Racism and hate close to home during World War II
I took my one-year-old son with me recently to the Hayward Area Historical Society’s Museum of History and Culture, where they are showcasing the local Japanese American WWII experience. The exhibit, called Loyal Americans: Japanese American Imprisonment During World War II, was to end in October but is extended until …
Valley Voices: “We’re constantly thinking, “Are we the next Parkland?'”
My name is Addie Bukhari, and I’m a sophomore at Castro Valley High School. I am the founder and president of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), and I also organized the 17-Minute Walkout on March 14th, along with members from World Citizen, and the Black Student Union. After the shooting, …
Valley Voices: Where will I go?
I am a refugee from Ethiopia who has lived in the United States since I was ten years old. I was forced to flee my country during the civil war, and lived in several different countries before immigrating to the United States. At the age of fifteen, I became …
Valley Voices: Don’t Give Up On Diversity and Tolerance
Guest Commentary by Kamran Faizi, Castro Valley resident I am a Muslim and came to the United States 31 years ago as a war refugee after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Recent events at Lake Chabot — where Muslims were attacked after praying, as well as general backlash against Muslims and …
Valley Voices: No Retreat, No Surrender!
Guest Commentary by Billy Bradford, Castro Valley Pride What in the world does this to people? Why do they hate us so much? I asked myself these questions in November 2008, the day Proposition 8 — the ballot measure to outlaw gay marriage — was approved by California voters. Months …