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Special Report: AAI Commemorates Martin Luther King, Jr. and Speaks Out on Civil Rights

Volume III, No. 4
Posted on Thursday January 24, 2002

The Arab American Institute (AAI) scheduled a number of programs during January and February to commemorate the civil rights leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 15 – Helen Samhan, Executive Director of the Arab American Institute Foundation (AAIF), addressed the Ford Foundation on the status of Arab American and Muslim immigrant and refugee communities and the civil rights challenges they are facing.

January 18 – Dr. James Zogby, President of AAI, addressed a plenary session of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on “Building Coalitions”, focusing on methods to achieve common ground and unite different ethnic and religious groups to advance common values.

January 19 – AAI co-sponsored and organized a civil rights rally that included a coalition of more than 50 ethnic and civil rights organizations to focus national media attention on the challenges to civil rights facing Americans after the terrorist attacks of September 11. Held at the Washington Convention Center, the event twice received front page coverage in the local news section of the Washington Post. Dr. Zogby noted that Dr. King’s legacy is as vital now as it was during the civil rights movement. He encouraged the more than 1,000 people in attendance to follow Dr. King’s path and challenge discrimination in all its forms.

January 21 – Dr. Zogby was a featured speaker at the official Martin Luther King Commission event honoring Dr. King and spoke about contemporary challenges to civil liberties in the aftermath of September 11.

January 24 – Dr. Zogby was the keynote speaker at the annual MLK commemoration at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York.

Jean AbiNader, Managing Director, addressed a “Capitol Hill Form on Civil Rights” hosted by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) that featured experts on civil liberties, lawyers involved with discrimination cases, victims of racial profiling, and Arab American and American Muslim groups reporting on the experiences of their communities.

Dr. Zogby spoke at former President Bill Clinton’s program, “Understanding Muslims and Arab Americans”, coordinated by Dr. John Esposito of Georgetown University’s Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding and New York University.

January 25 – Helen Samhan addressed the National Alliance to Bridge Race and Ethnicity (NABRE) on the work of AAI and the AAIF particularly relating to civil liberties issues and racial profiling.

January 31 – Dr. Zogby will address the National Immigration Forum (NIF) annual meeting on a panel “Feeling the Backlash: Racial Profiling, Hate Crimes, and Harassment in the Aftermath of September 11”. The meetings will be held in Washington, D.C.

February 1 – Helen Samhan will participate on the NIF panel “Working Towards Common Goals – Building Coalitions Across Ethnic, Religious and Racial Lines”.