ARAB AMERICAN LEADERSHIP DAYS 
Advocating for Justice 
Washington, D.C. April 26-28, 2017 

Read more: Poster campaign: In troubled times, Brooklyn folks support Arabic neighbors

Our members across the country are continuing to organize TAKE ON HATE Emergency Town Halls to prepare and respond to Trump’s agenda.

Above: Members of Orlando's Muslim and Arab American communities gathered with more than 10,000 people to show a strong, united front against hate, violence and terrorism at a vigil for Orlando on June 13, 2016. 

People across the country are coming together to heal, take a stand against hate and show support for the LGBTQ community following the violent attack in Orlando, Fla. on June 12, 2016, fueled by hate and homophobia, that took away so many innocent lives. (Read the full statement here.)

The Arab American Community Center of Florida (AACC), one of our member organizations, has been outspoken with their support, encouraging Arab and Muslim Americans to attend vigils, help the victims' families and donate blood.

"With demographic anxiety and political rhetoric fueling discrimination and hostility, the Ford Foundation—together with the New York Community Trust, the New York Foundation, and Philanthropy New York—hosted a discussion on 'Confronting Islamophobia in America Today.' Leaders from the nonprofit, government, social service, and philanthropic sectors came together to discuss the major issues affecting these minority communities, and to strategize about how to advance inclusion."

Several members of the Arab American Association of New York (AAANY), a National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) member, were invited to participate in the discussion. Check out the video below featuring Aber Kawas, AAANY Youth Organizer.

Amid the water crisis in Flint, Mich., the Arab American Heritage Council (AAHC) has partnered with local churches, mosques, United Way, Red Cross and several other relief groups and donors to provide water and filters to residents city-wide.

Mona Sahouri, Executive Director of AAHC (member organization of the National Network for Arab American Comunities), said buying water could be a massive financial burden, even on middle class families.

Arab American Association of New York, a National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) member, was featured in an article by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

But the U.S. shouldn’t paint all Syrians with a broad brush, said Linda Sarsour, an Arab-American leader in Bay Ridge.

Sarsour, executive director of the nonprofit Arab-American Association of New York, has started a petition drive to call on the nation’s governors to stop their rhetoric.

“We demand these governors and other elected officials stop using their hatred and xenophobia to shut out Syrian refugees who are in dire need of normalcy and safety. We call on these governors to refrain from making decisions and engaging in rhetoric rooted in misinformation and fear,” Sarsour said in a statement.  

Access California Services, a National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) member, was featured in an article by The Orange County Register:

“They’re fleeing from war. They’re fleeing from air raids, ground artillery fire. It’s just been a constant for the last four years,” said Suhail Mulla, associate director of Access California Services, an Anaheim group that provides services for Arab Americans and other Muslim Americans. “People stay as long as they possibly can. That’s their home. Nobody wants to leave their home,” he added.

“But when the danger hits close, then people say, ‘That’s enough. We can’t do this anymore.’”