DETROIT (Oct. 7, 2010) - Wayne State University Law School's Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights and the Muslim Law Students Association are pleased to announce a lecture by Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), at 12:15-1:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 18, in the Law School's Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium. Walid's lecture is titled "Bridging the Gap: The Park 51 Mosque and Islamphobia in America."

"Muslim Americans find themselves on the front lines of the civil rights struggle, and all Americans are called to stand with them," said Peter Hammer, Wayne Law professor and director of the Keith Center. "Dawud Walid is an inspiring leader calling for justice, inclusion and understanding. The Keith Center is proud to host an event designed to help bridge the gap and build a stronger community."

Walid is a well-known Detroit educator, activist and U.S. Navy veteran. He also has published numerous articles on Islam and interfaith dialogue and has appeared on major media outlets such as CNN, Al-Jazeera, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, NPR and the BBC. He has spoken at several institutions of higher learning, including Harvard University and the University of the Virgin Islands, as well as having served as a panelist at the 2008 Congressional Black Caucus Convention with the Rev. Jesse Jackson and at the 2009 Malian Peace and Tolerance Conference held in Bamako, Mali, which was attended by religious scholars from 12 different countries.

In addition to his current role with CAIR, he also is the assistant imam of Masjid Wali Muhammad in Detroit, a member of the North American Imams Federation and an executive board member of the Metropolitan Interfaith Workers Rights Committee.

This lecture is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. Parking is available for $4.75 in WSU Structure #1 across from the Law School on West Palmer Street in Detroit. For directions to the Law School or to view a campus map, visit campusmap.wayne.edu/location/LAW.

For more information about this and other upcoming Keith Center events, call Program Coordinator Holly Hughes at (313) 577-6497 or visit http://keithcenter.wayne.edu.

The Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights
The Hon. Damon J. Keith's life has been dedicated to fighting for justice and opportunity. The Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, made possible through generous gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations, will allow that work to continue at Wayne Law. The Center will help the Law School attract and retain outstanding students, support and strengthen its faculty, enhance programming, and promote civil rights in one of the most culturally rich and diverse cities in the United States. Ground was broken for the building on May 17, 2010, and the building is set to open in fall 2011.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.

For more information about Wayne State University Law School, visit law.wayne.edu.