Statement: Rights Groups Call on Congress to Say #NoMuslimBanEver
ARAB AMERICAN INSTITUTE Rights Groups Call on Congress to Say #NoMuslimBanEver For immediate release: September 27, 2017 (Washington, DC) This morning, the Arab American Institute joined 14 other organizations, including the ACLU, Amnesty International USA, Muslim Advocates, South Asian Americans Leading Together and NIAC Action, to deliver a petition with...
When Anti-Arab, Anti-Muslim Bigotry Becomes Local News: What You Need to Know About a Pending Media Merger
by Sarah Seniuk Although diversity in the media and news is essential to a well functioning democracy, diversity in media ownership has been on the decline since the 1980s. As of 2014, 90% of the media, including our news outlets, were owned by only six companies. Sinclair Broadcasting Group, an...
Evading Review: The Administration’s Muslim Ban Arguments
The Trump Administration’s consolidated Muslim Ban cases, Trump v. IRAP and Trump v. Hawaii, were set for oral arguments today, October 10. However, the president released a Proclamation late last month to replace the challenged Executive Order, prompting the Supreme Court to remove the case from the argument calendar and request briefs on October 5...
Roy Moore’s Dangerous Version of America
by Sarah Seniuk Roy Moore has a particular vision of America. His religious, political, and judicial histories and beliefs have come under renewed scrutiny as Alabama prepares for its senatorial special election. Moore’s selection as the GOP nominee, all but ensuring he’ll become the new senator for Alabama, should have...
The Attempt to Make the Muslim Ban Permanent
On September 24, the Trump White House released a new Presidential Proclamation effective October 18, which essentially makes permanent the temporary Muslim/refugee Ban the president signed earlier this year. The Proclamation, like Trump’s previous Muslim Ban actions, relies on the fundamental assumption that foreigners, and specifically Muslims and Arabs, pose a heightened...
by Sarah Seniuk Founded in 1963 by direction of President John F. Kennedy, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law fights to ensure the equal protection of and justice under the law, particularly for marginalized and under-protected groups. Following the election of President Trump and the ensuing rise of...
by Sarah Seniuk Raising serious questions about the ethics of an appearance by Justice Neil Gorsuch at the Trump International Hotel, DC, the Arab American Institute was joined by 17 rights organizations, in a letter to Chief Justice Roberts. The groups essentially asked Chief Justice Roberts to encourage his bench...
DACA and Beyond: The Risks and Rewards of Visibility
By Sarah Seniuk Since President Trump announced his intention to end President Obama’ Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive action, dozens of articles have been posted every day exploring DACA, the DREAM Act, who is most affected, and what is at stake both for DACA recipients and the country...
An Unlikely Face for The First Amendment: Juggalos & The Danger of Gang Designation
By Sarah Seniuk Juggalos were a relatively unknown group of music fans until their march in DC on September 16 but now they are one of the most visual faces of the fight for first amendment rights. Juggalos are fans of the horror-core rap duo Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope...
#YallaVote Campaign for National Voter Registration Day a Success
by Sydney Roeder “Any day upholding American democracy... is a day well spent.” Zane Alkoor with Davidson College noted about the #YallaVote campaign launched by the Arab American Institute Foundation last week. September 26th was National Voter Registration Day. Like every other year since #YallaVote’s conception in 1998, AAIF took to the...
