By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
Dallas, Texas — The Center of Excellence for Community Services (CECS) organized an event in Dallas that brought together federal law enforcement agencies and community leaders under one roof. The goal was to foster collaboration and implement effective measures to address hate crimes. The event was held in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
State Representative Salman Bhojani, along with leaders from various Pakistani Muslim organizations, participated in large numbers. The event aimed to raise community awareness about hate crime laws and promote unity against hate-driven offenses.
Representative Bhojani emphasized the importance of such events, noting the need for preparation for potential challenges in the future, particularly with a possible return of Trump’s administration. He highlighted that during Trump’s previous term, Muslim voices were absent in state assemblies, but now, with two Muslim representatives, they are committed to representing all communities. He also expressed his determination to celebrate events like Muslim Day at the Texas Capitol.
FBI Special Agent Pete O’Brien, who oversees North Texas, stressed the urgent need to combat hate crimes and strengthen community resilience. He highlighted the significance of community partnerships in fighting hate.
Leigha Simonton, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, shared her professional experiences and underscored the importance of reporting hate crimes. She provided examples, including the conviction of an individual involved in an attack on a Muslim-owned tire shop, who now faces a lifetime in prison.
Special thanks were extended by FBI Deputy Assistant Director O’Brien to CECS President and Founder Nadeem Zaman and his team for organizing this critical dialogue.
The event featured informative presentations and panel discussions on topics such as “Run, Hide, Fight,” hate crime analysis, civil hate incidents, unity, and justice. FBI Special Agents Kevin Minor, Jean Bregman, Kerry Davis, and Eric Chen provided detailed insights. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Hasday discussed civil hate cases and the federal government’s stance on such incidents.
CECS President Nadeem Zaman highlighted the organization’s longstanding efforts to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement agencies in combating hate crimes, Islamophobia, and anti-Semitism. He emphasized the importance of providing a platform for dialogue and collaboration with federal agencies to ensure justice and unity within the community.
Dr. Ayaz Malik, who presented on Community Responsibilities as U.S. Citizens,and CECS Director Mohammad Afzal also expressed their gratitude to all the guests.
Prominent attendees included industrialist Hafeez Khan, Attorney Naeem Sukhia, Pakistan Society Board of Trustees member Barkat Busraya, Dr. Bashir Ahmed, Barrister Tausif Kamal, Ghulam Jahangda, Dr. Jaleel Khan, Dr. M. Tariq, Amir Memon, Perveez Malik, Raja Zahid Khanzada, Dr. Rabia Khan, and many others.
