Press Room

Press Releases

State Department and Local Officials to Address Southern California Arab Americans during AAI Town Hall

Posted on Monday June 13, 2005

ANAHEIM, Cal. – Ambassador Robin Raphel, State Department Coordinator for Iraq Reconstruction, will address the Southern California Arab American community on the political situation in Iraq, offering local activists and leaders an opportunity to participate in a question and answer session on U.S. foreign policy.

The event will also provide community members with an opportunity to learn first hand about political activism on the local and state level from leaders and officials involved with both political parties, including John Chiang, Chair of the California State Board of Equalization; Richard Chavez, Mayor Pro Tempore and Council Member for Anaheim; Kermit Marsh, City Council Member for Westminster; Ferial Masry, Arab American Democratic activist and former candidate for State Assembly; and Tareef Nashashibi, President Arab American Republican Club of Orange County.

The town hall meeting is being organized by the Arab American Institute Southern California.

“This represents a unique opportunity for local community members to get involved and voice their concerns,” said Rida Reed Hamzeh, AAI Coordinator for So. Cal. “Not only to the State Department about Middle East foreign policy, but also to Southern California political leaders and candidates for public office about local issues of concern. Our issues are America’s issues and our concerns are our neighbors concerns.”

WHO: Ambassador Robin Raphel, State Department Coordinator for Iraq Reconstruction
Richard Chavez, Mayor Pro Tempore and Council Member for Anaheim
Kermit Marsh, City Council Member for Westminster
John Chiang, Chair of the California State Board of Equalization
Ferial Masry, Arab American Democratic activist and former State Assembly candidate
Tarif Nashashibi, President Arab American Republican Club of Orange County
WHAT: Town Hall meeting with State Department and local officials.
WHEN: Saturday, June 25, 12:30 PM-4 PM
WHERE: Holiday Inn, La Mirada, 14299 Firestone Blvd, (Holiday Inn for directions: 714-739-8500)