Blog — Park 51
Sunday April 29, 2012
This week, we’re faced with the latest challenge when Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer bring their so-called “Jessica Mokdad Human Rights Conference” to Dearborn on Sunday. Along with a tremendous group of local organizations, AAI has organized a community town hall on Islamophobia on the same day as their conference this Sunday, April 29 at 1pm at the Doubletree Hotel in Dearborn (5801 Southfield Road). AAI President Jim Zogby will be there, along with Eli Clifton, the co-author of a groundbreaking report on Geller and friends called Fear Inc., and prominent journalist and blogger Sarah Posner. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 10:18 am / / Leave a comment
Monday September 12, 2011
Turner’s Park 51-related sensationalist tactics are the basest form of disrespect. Bob Turner’s campaign diminishes our nation’s grief. It disregards our common determination to move forward. It disrespects the memory of those who fell on 9/11 by using their deaths as a political maneuver. And it shows the deepest contempt for the very freedoms and rights on which this country was founded. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 10:52 am / / Leave a comment
Friday June 10, 2011
By Ed Gaier
A recent New York Times Op-Ed by Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow Ray Takeyh argues that the Middle East is headed for a post-American era. In this era, the United States would ostensible have limited ability to project its power and cajole Arab regimes to pursue policies aligned with American interests. He posits that new Arab countries in democratic transitions in the “era of self-determination” will not be as subjective to American foreign policy priorities as previous alliances of patronage have been. Read More »
Posted by Guest at 10:46 am / / 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
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 »
Posted by AAI at 8:20 am / / 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
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
Friday October 08, 2010
Last week, AAI published the Congressional Scorecard for the 111th Congress. This signature publication is a critical resource for voters and activists, detailing the positions taken by each member of Congress on issues of particular importance to the Arab American community and many others – from their stances on the Goldstone Report to protecting civil liberties. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 3:59 pm / / Leave a comment
Tuesday September 07, 2010
At an emergency summit today organized by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Jim joined a group of interfaith leaders who came together to “denounce categorically the derision, misinformation and outright bigotry being directed against America’s Muslim community.” Read More »
Posted by AAI at 7:00 pm / / Leave a comment
Tuesday August 31, 2010
Today, AAI president Jim Zogby joined a panel of experts on Capitol Hill to discuss the image of Muslims in America. The event was sponsored by the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association (CMSA), introduced by the association’s president Assad Akhter, and moderated by Suheil Khan, Senior Fellow at the Institute for Global Engagement and a former Bush administration political appointee. In addition to the three panelists, approximately 75 people were in attendance. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 1:17 pm / / Leave a comment
Monday August 30, 2010
In a political climate where it may be expedient to remain silent, 5 former Bush Administration staff members have spoken out against the charged rhetoric aimed at stopping the proposed Muslim Cultural Center in Lower Manhattan. As is important to do with examples of principled courage in times of division in our national political discourse, we would like to highlight their statements: Read More »
Posted by AAI at 3:05 pm / / Leave a comment
Friday August 27, 2010
Jim takes part in a panel discussion about the Islamic community center in lower Manhattan on FRANCE 24, an international news channel broadcast in French, English and Arabic in more than 120 countries. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 11:50 am / / Leave a comment
Friday August 27, 2010
In an attempt to bring some reason to the conversation about the proposed Islamic community center near ground zero, the Congressional Muslim Staff Association (CMSA) has organized a briefing for congressional staff. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 10:43 am / / Leave a comment
Thursday August 26, 2010
The Arab American Institute is deeply concerned about the anti-Muslim rhetoric that has been generated in response to plans to build an Islamic community center in lower Manhattan. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 1:13 pm / / Leave a comment
Wednesday August 25, 2010
In the midst of countless politically opportunistic statements by elected officials yielding to misguided passions on the Islamic center in lower Manhattan, several officials have admirably resisted the pressures and stood firm on principle in defense of religious freedom and against the demonization of the Muslim community. Read More »
Posted by AAI at 2:54 pm / / Leave a comment
What Comes First: #Media Impact or Influence? discussed on @aaiusa blog #Arab American Institute 
#Assad gives interview to Russian channel, warns other countries that "sow chaos" in #Syria could suffer same fate: 
Be Part of the Change!