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Blog — Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Thursday May 12, 2011
Last night, the House Armed Service Committee finished marking up the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Buried deep within the Act is a provision, added by committee chairman Rep. Buch McKeon (R-CA), which seemingly offers a blank check for the executive branch to wage war without geographic, time, or justificatory constraints. According to a press release by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Read More »
Posted by Omar Baddar at 3:12 pm / / Leave a comment
Wednesday May 11, 2011
Yesterday, May 10th, President Barack Obama delivered a major address on immigration in El Paso, Texas. The framework of Obama’s speech was the agreement Republicans made to support comprehensive immigration reform if border security was first dealt with effectively. Noting that his administration has delivered on its end of the deal (through a “now basically complete” fence on the border, more boots on the ground for border patrol, and substantially better results in terms of seized illegal drugs, weapons and currency), the President argued that it was now time for the Republicans to live up to their end of the deal by supporting comprehensive immigration reform. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 12:46 pm / / Leave a comment
Tuesday May 10, 2011
Gingrich’s decision to re-enter politics by becoming a Republican presidential candidate for 2012 may not serve the Arab American and American Muslim community well. Read More »
Posted by Adam Abosedra at 1:58 pm / / Leave a comment
Monday May 02, 2011
Representative Kavanagh apologized for his “poorly conceived” bill during a meeting with the Sodhi family and the Sikh American community. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 4:44 pm / / Leave a comment
Friday April 15, 2011
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has published a map online which highlights regions and states in the U.S. where both planned or existing mosques and Islamic centers have met opposition in one form or another. The red dots shed light on a disturbing trend that has taken root across the country since the Park 51 controversy in Lower Manhattan. Read More »
Posted by Omar Baddar at 12:21 pm / / Leave a comment
Thursday April 14, 2011
"As an Arab American woman I am proud of the recent changes in the Middle East and the opportunity women there have to participate in the newly accessible civic forum. Vital Voices has worked for years to support women in these environments, through local communities and women's networks, to improve the lives and futures of women both inside and outside the Arab World. To honor their commitment at this time in history not only makes me proud of what they've done, but hopeful for the work they will continue to do in the region." - AAI Executive Director, Maya Berry. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 10:26 am / / Leave a comment
Tuesday April 12, 2011
Today from 12pm to 1:30 pm, the Center For American Progress (CAP) will convene a panel of experts entitled: Choosing our words Carefully: The Consequences of Heated Rhetoric to address the rise in xenophobic and bigoted rhetoric in politics and its affect on various ethnic and religious communities throughout the country. Citing the assassination attempt on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona, the panel will also assess how heated political discourse has the potential to encourage irascible and discontent individuals to violence. This event will be live-streamed and we encourage you to tune in. AAI president Jim Zogby is among the featured panelists. Read More »
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Monday April 04, 2011
Given the situation in the Middle East, there is a growing need for Arab Americans to be in the media and weigh in on the issues that matter. During the height of the revolution in Egypt we put a number of individuals in contact with various media outlets to ensure Arab American voices were heard. It is extremely important to AAI and to the community that Arab Americans are represented in the media. Please continue to share your news with us and let us know what you are doing. Additionally, if you need any help in contacting the media, we have several tools available and would be happy to assist. Here are some appearances of Jim on a few programs we'd like to share with you. You can also share your news with us by...
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Posted by AAI at 12:42 pm / / Leave a comment
Friday April 01, 2011
On Tuesday, Democratic Party Whip Senator Dick Durbin (IL) convened a hearing on the civil rights of American Muslims. Viewed widely as a counterweight to Representative Peter King's (R-NY) hearings on "radicalization" in the American Muslim community, Durbin's hearing did not garner nearly as much attention from the media. Despite the relative lack of coverage, the message Senator Durbin's hearings sent to the American Muslim community and to the general American public at large was an extremely important and positive one. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 11:23 am / / Leave a comment
Wednesday March 30, 2011
This afternoon, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a hearing entitled “Securing the Border: Building on the Progress Made.” The hearing will be held at 2:30pm in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in room 342. There are three witnesses scheduled to testify: Read More »
Posted by AAI at 8:51 am / / Leave a comment
Tuesday March 29, 2011
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) convened a hearing today on Capitol Hill entitled: “Protecting the Civil Rights of American Muslims.” Though the hearings did not garner nearly as much media attention Rep. Peter King's (R-NY) March 10th hearings on "radicalization" within the American Muslim Community, AAI President Jim Zogby today in Politico's "The Arena" makes the case for how important Durbin's hearing is stating: "If unresolved (anti-Muslim bigotry) will tear at the very fabric of our nation's self-definition." Read More »
Posted by AAI at 11:38 am / / Leave a comment
Tuesday March 29, 2011
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), assistant Senate Majority Leader, will hold a hearing of the Judiciary committee’s subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights that will focus on protecting the civil rights of American Muslims. AAI welcomed this announcement as the continued rise of anti-Muslim bigotry hinders the free exercise rights of all religious communities. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 8:41 am / / Leave a comment
Saturday March 26, 2011
"Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door" is the profoundly disturbing documentary (appearing on CNN, Sunday, March 27 at 8:00 PM) that tells the story of Murfreesboro's war with itself. Produced by Soledad O'Brien, "Unwelcome" is both low key and forceful. Read More »
Posted by Jim Zogby at 2:13 pm / / Leave a comment
Friday March 25, 2011
We previously highlighted the Federal Bureau of Prisons Communications Management Unit (CMU) to isolate and set apart “dangerous terrorists and other high-risk inmates." Coming up in Monday's edition of The Nation magazine, acclaimed author Alia Malek examines the issue in a must read piece entitled "Gitmo in the Heartland." Read More »
Posted by AAI at 1:19 pm / / Leave a comment
Thursday March 10, 2011
Today marked the kickoff for the Peter King Hearings on so-called radicalization of the American Muslim community. Well, that’s what the hearing was supposed to be about. But amid the controversy over King’s singling out the American Muslim community, today’s show trial ended up involving a thorough discussion about its own legitimacy: a King hearing on the King Hearings. It was political theatre at its best. Read More »
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Wednesday March 09, 2011
For those in Washington, DC, we’ve heard of another rally to challenge Rep. Peter King’s (R-NY) hearings on “Muslim Radicalization.” As we told you before, Rep. King plans to hold a hearing tomorrow morning on “The Extent of Radicalization in the Muslim Community and That Community’s Response.” Read More »
Posted by AAI at 2:06 pm / / Leave a comment
Thursday March 03, 2011
Congressmen Pete Stark (D-CA) and John Dingell (D-MI) are circulating a Dear Colleague Letter criticizing the indefensible singling out of the American Muslim community in the Peter King (R-NY) hearings on so-called radicalization. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 2:47 pm / / Leave a comment
Wednesday February 16, 2011
After last week’s stunning House vote rejecting the extension of key Patriot Act provisions, this week both the House and Senate passed those provisions. Those provisions include the “roving wiretap” provision, the “libraries provision,” and the “lone wolf” provision. Read More »
Posted by Nadia Firozvi at 11:39 am / / Leave a comment
Wednesday February 09, 2011
In a bit of a surprise for many, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX), the House voted against extending key Patriot Act measures yesterday evening. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 12:36 pm / / Leave a comment
Tuesday February 01, 2011
Today, AAI joined 50 other community, religious, civil and human rights organizations in signing a letter calling on congressional leaders to object to House Homeland Security Committee Chair Peter King's (R-NY) hearings on the 'radicalization of the Muslim American community.' Read More »
Posted by AAI at 1:16 pm / / Leave a comment
Looking at Iran by James Zogby
Kahlil Gibran Awards Gala - April 16, 2013
