4/10/25: Today at MLK International Chapel in Atlanta!
Today at MLK International Chapel in Atlanta!
At the 39th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. College of Ministers and Laity, held at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel in Atlanta, Imam Mohammad Ali Elahi honored Dean of the Chapel Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., Rev. Dr. Keyon S. Payton the powerful, key note speaker of the event and other organizers for their leadership, vision, and tireless work for social justice and democracy.
Imam Elahi expressed his deep honor and pleasure in sharing words at the historic area where Dr. King delivered his significant 1967 address, highlighting the three major evils of racism, poverty, and war.
Reflecting on recent developments concerning the treatment of immigrants and the scrutiny faced by prestigious universities such as Columbia and Harvard, particularly regarding judgments based on social media comments, Imam Elahi voiced his concern that it wouldn’t be too surprising if one day defending constitutional freedoms or even reflecting on the pledge of allegiance—“one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”— become criminalized
He emphasized that criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon does not equate to antisemitism, stating, “no body is anti-Judaism, nor antisemitic. Arabs themselves are Semitic, but condemning the Israeli genocide in Gaza and Lebanon is not an act of antisemitism.”
Imam Elahi expressed his heartfelt concern over the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Gaza, noting that in nearly 550 days, an average of 400 Palestinians have been killed or wounded daily, with 70 percent being women and children. Despite widespread international condemnation, these brutalities persist.
He prayed for an end to all wars and concluded that the horror of hatred and bloodshed should not force us to abandon hope. Together, he urged, we can save our democracy, stand for social justice, and fulfill Dr. King’s dream of building a beloved community.
