The White House is paying attention to the rise of Islamophobia in America by creating a new position, and has appointed Zaki Barzinji as liaison to the Muslim American community under the Office of Public Engagement. Barzinji’s resume is impressive as he was a past president of the Muslim Youth of North America and former Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-Va).
Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the Office of Public Engagement, said this in a statement: “As we continue to lift up the contributions of Muslim Americans and celebrate our nation’s rich patchwork heritage, we also continue our work to combat discrimination, harassment, and attacks on community members, and address the challenges these communities and our nation are currently facing.”
Barzinji talks about his new position, “A big part of this role is making sure the national conversation about these communities is not framed through a single lens, but covers the full range of issues that Muslims and other Americans face.”
