AAI joined over 330 organizations in a letter to members of Congress expressing deep concern regarding proposed expansion of terrorism-related legal authority.
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The AAI team began 2020 with genuine excitement and planning for both the decennial census and the presidential election. Fate had other plans, but we were undeterred and remained focused on strengthening our democracy, protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of all, and standing for human rights.
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In the very month in which I read articles condemning the “cancel culture” – which some apply exclusively to the “left’s efforts to silence or shame views with which they disagree” – several disturbing incidents caught my attention.
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The Arab American Institute (AAI) today called for a better response to hate crime after the FBI’s 2019 hate crime data again showed the deadliest year on record and the most violent since 2001, when a surge of incidents was reported in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As with the 2016 and 2017 murders of Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer, high-profile hate crimes went unreported in the 2019 data. Congress must exercise its oversight and legislative authorities to address these shortcomings.
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During the past century, we have witnessed a long and tragic history of domestic policies that have targeted persons of Arab descent. We’ve been subjected to discriminatory treatment by law enforcement, immigration authorities, and by both Democratic and Republican Administrations. In addition to these hurtful policies, it is important to note the role played by the scapegoating of Arabs in American politics.
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Donald Trump isn’t the first politician to use demonization of foreigners, whether Arabs or Muslims, as a campaign tactic. And his administration isn’t the first to implement policies that have adversely affected these communities. But while we have a century of such policies, the Trump era has elevated them to a level so dangerous it is imperative that they now finally be confronted and defeated.
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As concerns rise over the global pandemic COVID-19, the Novel Coronavirus, so too have racist attacks and discrimination against individuals of Asian descent. Such attacks have occurred around the globe – in public transit, schools, businesses, and even on sidewalks – individuals of Asian descent are being targeted by violence and increased discrimination over an incorrect and bigoted assumption that someone with Asian heritage is likely to carry COVID-19.
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“Mike will bring us together," is one of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s campaign slogans, invoking his claim that, in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he brought New Yorkers together.
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The Arab American Institute (AAI) welcomes the introduction of the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality Act of 2019 (the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act), which would promote more accurate hate crime data collection and assist hate crime victims and their communities.
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On Jan. 23, 2020, the Arab American Institute (AAI), along with Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Muslim Advocates, Sikh Coalition, and SPLC Action Fund, sent a letter to members of Congress encouraging bipartisan support of the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (S. 3190|H.R. 5602).
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Thirty-two years ago this month, I was arrested sitting-in and blocking the entrance of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC. The Embassy was hosting an event that evening in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Looking back at what we did that day, I'm confident that it was the right way to remember Dr. King's legacy.
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Glance, unlock. Accessing your beloved electronic companion has never been easier as the key is now your unique face. Simple enough? Not so fast. The convenient technology of facial recognition has not made it into our daily lives without controversy, and with good reason.
The Arab American Institute is pleased to submit this statement for the record of today’s hearing. We support the subcommittee in its intentions to examine the federal government’s efforts to address the threat of white supremacist violence in the United States. This statement focuses on the federal government’s data collection practices relating to white supremacist violence, including acts that meet the definition of hate crime, domestic terrorism, or both. While today’s hearing evaluates the data collection practices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this statement widens the aperture to consider potential sources of data from other components of the federal government, namely the National Security Division within the Department of Justice.
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Named after two hate crime victims whose murders were prosecuted as hate crimes but not reported in hate crime statistics, the Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer National Opposition to Hate, Assault, and Threats to Equality (NO HATE) Act would promote more accurate hate crime data collection and assist hate crime victims and their communities.
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Across the country young people and their families are preparing to go back to school. As the 2019-2020 academic year gets underway, AAI wants to be sure that families are ready to respond to any incidents of bigotry, discrimination or First Amendment violations related to their child’s education.
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The Arab American Institute is pleased to submit this statement for the record of today’s hearing. We support the subcommittee in its intentions to examine the federal government’s efforts to address the threat of white supremacist violence in the United States. This statement focuses on the federal government’s data collection practices relating to white supremacist violence, including acts that meet the definition of hate crime, domestic terrorism, or both. While today’s hearing evaluates the data collection practices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this statement widens the aperture to consider potential sources of data from other components of the federal government, namely the National Security Division within the Department of Justice.
Read MoreSubmitted to the House Judiciary Committee Hearing on “Hate Crimes and the Rise of White Nationalism”
The Arab American Institute is pleased to submit this statement for the record in support of continued examination of hate crime in American communities and related policy or legislative initiatives, such as federal efforts that would promote improved data collection of reported incidents under the Hate Crime Statistics Act.1 As indicated in the opening remarks of Chairman Nadler and Ranking Member Collins, preventing both the incidence of hate crime and white supremacist or white nationalist violence is a bipartisan concern.
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Before the Vermont General Assembly, Senate Committee on Judiciary Statement of Kai Wiggins, Policy Analyst, Arab American Institute February 14, 2019
As a national civil rights organization founded in 1985, AAI promotes the political and civic empowerment of Arab Americans and supports similar efforts of other communities across the United States. As recent high-profile cases of persistent racial harassment in Vermont have shown, bias incidents can disrupt the democratic process and intimidate individuals and their communities from participating in political and civic affairs.
Read MoreAs a national civil rights organization founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute (AAI) promotes the political representation and civic engagement of Arab Americans and supports similar efforts of other communities across the United States. As recent high profile cases of persistent racial harassment in Vermont have made clear, bias incidents can disrupt the democratic process and intimidate individuals and their communities from participating in political and civic affairs. When these incidents rise to the level of criminal activity, and therefore become what we call “hate crimes,” the effects can be even more damaging.
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Underreported, Under Threat: Hate Crime in the United States and the Targeting of Arab Americans documents the history of hate crime prevention in the United States with a focus on targeted violence against Arab Americans. An important part of this history, though previously undisclosed, is the elimination of Bias Motivation Code 31 (Anti-Arab) from official hate crime data collections. After contextualizing anti-Arab hate crime within a broader narrative of discrimination and bigotry, the report provides case studies of targeted violence against Arab Americans, a review of the national hate crime reporting and data collection system, including analysis of anti-Arab hate crime reporting, and a consideration of enduring limitations to our federal hate crime statistics. We conclude this report with a series of recommendations based on our findings.
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