MINNEAPOLIS — I’ve witnessed, first-hand, war crimes and human rights abuses in Palestine. I’ve watched as the corporate press manipulates the situation to suit various political and corporate ends. And I suffered from PTSD and anxiety due to life under Israeli occupation.
Shortly after I returned to the United States in 2001, I witnessed our media beating the drums of war to justify two invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan that have left millions dead and displaced.
These experiences have all influenced my decision to become a journalist who could speak up for those who don’t have a voice and to expose the misinformation fed to us by our government and the corporate media — misinformation that has the devastating effect of erecting walls between us and fomenting fear and hate.
As many of you know, in 2009, I became the first hijabi journalist and anchor to report the news in American media. Then, two years later, I left corporate TV news to start MintPress News. Now I have the groundbreaking opportunity to get back on TV by expanding my new show “Behind the Headline” into a 28-minute, commercial-free show that will air on cable, dish, and Internet news networks.
In a climate of so much fear, hate and endless wars, we have the opportunity to put a hijabi journalist on American TV who challenges the establishment narrative on wars, corporatism, and attacks on our civil liberties.
We have the opportunity to put someone on TV who wants to tackle Islamophobia and fear to justify war, rather than stoke Islamophobia and fear to justify war.
We have the opportunity to reach over 38 million households each day to spread the message of peace while calling out those have hijacked our democracy for fascism.
But we can’t do this alone.
We need to raise $4,000 by Dec. 20.
“Behind the Headline” tackles issues the establishment media won’t touch, with people the oligarchy would probably prefer to keep silent. We’re breaking barriers to produce acts of journalism that we can be proud of.
We’re talking to alternative political candidates, like Jill Stein, the 2016 Green Party candidate for President of the United States, and George Galloway, the Respect Party’s candidate for mayor of London.
We’re giving a voice to the voiceless, like a survivor of multiple Israeli attacks on Gaza Freedom Flotillas and the father of the Saudi political prisoner Ali Al-Nimr.
We’re highlighting the work and ideas of stalwarts of social change, like CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou, medical cannabis advocate Rick Simpson, and the parents of the late Rachel Corrie.
To continue to produce citizen-supported, groundbreaking, professional-quality programming that can serve as a model for journalism in America, we need more than clicks, views and “likes.” We need your financial help.
Let’s raise $4,000 by Dec. 20.
Help us delve deeper into the stories and interviews that only we can bring you.
Help us in our quest to alter the political landscape for generations to come.
Help us to continue to deliver the type of material that keeps us on not just your radar but the radar of government officials and the monied elite that influence our political atmosphere and the media.
Donate here to MintPress News today and help “Behind the Headline” hit airwaves across the country.
With much love and in solidarity,
Mnar Muhawesh
CEO, Editor-in-Chief of MintPress News