Emergency Town Hall Meeting

The Arab American Community: Responding To Attacks on Gaza

Tuesday January 6
6:30 to 8:00 pm

ADC National Headquarters
1732 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20007

Join the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) to express your thoughts on the Arab American response to this issue. Attendees must RSVP by sending an e-mail with your full name to rsvp@adc.org . Seating is limited.

Information: 202.244.2990, organizing@adc.org, www.adc.org I

You Can Help

These and other organizations are collecting donations for relief to Gaza :

UNRWA
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is accepting donations: http://www.un.org/unrwa/emergency/donation/emergency_activities.html

ANERA
Accepting donations for medical supplies:
https://secure2.convio.net/anera/site/Donation2?df_id=1280&1280.donation=form1

Palestine Red Crescent Society
Cash donations are being accepted into an established bank account http://www.palestinercs.org/news_details.aspx?nid=39

Medical Aid for Palestinians
Donations for medical supplies (Donations taken in pounds not dollars)
https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/main_V2.aspx?p=donation&id=395758

Stop the Massacre of Palestinians!

Tuesday, December 30
National Day of Action

The ANSWER Coalition, Muslim American Society Freedom, Free Palestine Alliance, National Council of Arab Americans, and Al-Awda, International Palestine Right to Return Coalition are calling for Tuesday, December 30 to be a National Day of Action to show solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza and to demand an immediate end to the murderous attacks carried out by the Israeli military against the people of Gaza.

In Washington, D.C., there will be a demonstration at the State Department at 4:30 pm. Demonstrations will also be held in cities around the country. See below for an initial list. If there is a demonstration in your city, email the details to info@answercoalition.org so it can be posted on the ANSWER Coalition website and listed in any future emails.

CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles
Tuesday, December 30
4:30 pm
Israeli Consulate: 6380 Wilshire Blvd.
Contact: 213-251-1025, answerla@answerla.org

San Francisco
Tuesday, December 30
5:00 pm
Israeli Consulate:456 Montgomery St.
Contact: 415-821-6545, answer@answersf.org

Monday, December 29
5:00 pm
Vigil at Sen. Dianne Feinstein's Office: Montgomery and Market
Co-Sponsored by a number of local organizations

CONNECTICUT
New Haven, CT
Wednesday, December 31
12 noon
Federal Building: 141 Church St. (between Chapel and Elm St)
Sponsored by Middle East Crisis Committee, ANSWER-CT and other local organizations
Contact: 203-606-0319, connecticut@answercoalition.org

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, December 30
4:30 pm
State Department: 22nd St & C St NW
Contact: 202-544-3389 x14, dc@answercoalition.org

FLORIDA
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Tuesday, December 30
5:00 pm
Federal Building: 299 E. Broward Blvd.
Contact: 954-707-0155, FtLauderdale@answerfl.org

Ocala, FL
Tuesday, December 30
noon
Gather near the Ocala Lockheed facility, located in the southeast quadrant of the county just off Maricamp Road (route 464) near Emerald and Oak
Sponsored by Marions for Peace, CFCC students and Iraqi veterans against the war

Tampa, FL
Tuesday, December 30
4:30 pm
N Dale Mabry Hwy and W Spruce St.

ILLINOIS
Chicago
Details to be announced
Contact: 773-463-0311, answer@chicagoanswer.net

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston
Wednesday, December 31
2:00PM
Copley Square
Sponsored by the Boston Coalition for Palestinian RightsContact: info@bcpr.net
Get involved with ANSWER in Boston: 857-334-5084, boston@answercoalition.org

MICHIGAN
Dearborn, MI
Tuesday, December 30
4:00 pm
Gathering at corner of Warren and Chase in Dearborn
Sponsored by the Congress of Arab American Organizations (CAAO)

MINNESOTA
Minneapolis, MN
Tuesday, December 30
10:00 am - Office of Senator Amy Klobuchar: 1200 Washington Avenue South2)
Office of Congressman Keith Ellison: 2100 Plymouth Ave North
Sponsored by WAMM Women Against Military Madness

NEW YORK
New York City
Tuesday, December 30
5:00 pm
Israeli Consulate: 800 2nd Ave (b/w 42nd and 43rd Sts)
Contact: 212-694-8720, nyc@answercoalition.org

OHIO
Youngstown, OH
Vigil Monday, December 29
5:00-9:00pm
Arab American Community Center: 15 Belgrade Ave, Youngstown, OH 44505 (off Belmont between Gypsy & Colonial)
Sponsored by the Arab American Community Center of Greater Youngstown

Demonstration Tuesday, December 30
1:003:00pm
Thomas D. Lambros Federal Bldg & U.S. Courthouse: 125 Market Street, Youngstown, OH 44503
Sponsored by the Arab American Community Center of Greater Youngstown

TEXAS
Austin, TX
Monday, December 29
5:00 pm
The Capitol: 11th & Congress
Contact: contact@palestineonlinestore.com
Initiated by a number of local organizations

Houston, TX
Tuesday, December 30
4:00-5:30 pm
Gather at Mandell Bridge (Mandell St. at Hwy. 59)
Contact: rwcsr1@yahoo.com

WASHINGTON
Seattle
Saturday, January 3
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm
Westlake Park: 4th and Pine
Initiated by Voices of PalestineContact: general@voicesofpalestine.org

Tacoma, WA
Tuesday, December 30
5:00 pm
In front of the Courthouse at Pacific Avenue and 19th Street. Protesters are asked to bring signs, candles, and flashlights

ENGLAND
London
Monday, December 29
4:00= 6:00 pm
Opposite Israeli Embassy: Kensington High Street Nearest tube: High Street Kensington
Sponsored by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign

ITALY
Florence
Tuesday, December 30
5:30 pm
Via Martelli Sponsored by Comunita' Palestinese in Toscana, Associazione de Amicizia Italo/Palestinese, Comitato Fiorentino Fermiamo la Guerra

WALES
Wednesday, December 31
5:00-6:00 pm
Nye Bevan's statue, Queen St Cardiff
Sponsored by CND Cymru, Palestine Solidarity Cymru

Arab American Health Study

Dr. Nawar Shara, Director of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Georgetown University, is conducting a study on the health and wellness of Arab Americans. This is an important study because so little research that focuses on our community has been conducted in the past.

Please take a few minutes to answer this questionnaire about your own personal health and wellness. The survey is completely anonymous and answering it will only take a few minutes out of your day but will contribute to some valuable research. The questions pertain to your personal health and work habits, nutrition, medical history, access to health care and cultural heritage.

If you are 18 or older and live in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, please go to http://www.aaiusa.org/page/m2/4b660e31/1ba9e75c/85fe1bf/1c4fac81/2323448953/VEsH/

If you have any questions or are willing to participate in a follow-up study, please contact Dr. Shara directly at http://us.mc362.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nawar.shara@medstar.net or (301) 502-0339.

A Message From Maz

This is my new solo tour. Although I do plan to have other comics and musicians performing with me. I wonder if that's false advertising. Can I be sued for calling it a "Solo" tour? I guess I could always argue that I meant "So Low" tour. But then I'd have to perform every show lying down on stage. The audience would ask, "why is Maz performing so low?" To which I would reply, "there's a lawsuit pending lady, stop asking questions." This is why I didn't go to law school!

Anyway, here are the dates for my new tour. I'm very excited about this as I get to do longer sets and have more fun on stage. Please pass this along to all your friends in these cities. I will be adding more cities both in and out of the U.S. as the tour progresses, so stay tuned for more.

ALL TICKETS AVAILABLE AT WWW.LIVENATION.COM - JUST ENTER "MAZ JOBRANI" IN THE SEARCH BOX.

Las Vegas - Dec. 26th - House of Blues (Mandalay Bay) - Me, Kvon, Max Amini, Reza Peyk, Shawn Pelofsky and Special Guest Rapper Yas - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6G9-bx7Kbc

New York - Jan. 10th - Town Hall - Me, Kvon, Meena Dimian, Maria Shehata and Special Guest Musicians Kiosk - www.kiosk-music.com/index.cfm (this is their first time ever in New York. NOT TO BE MISSED!)

San Diego - Jan. 16th - House of Blues - Me, Kvon, and Special Guest singer Janis Leahy - www.janisleahy.com

Seattle - Jan. 23rd - Triple Door - Me, Kvon, Reza Peyk

Vancouver - Jan. 24th - Commodore Ballroom - Me, Kvon, Reza Peyk

Philadelphia - Feb. 6th - Theater of the Living Arts- Me, Kvon and more...

Boston - Feb. 7th - Berklee Performance Center - Me, Kvon and more...

Ann Arbor, MI - Feb. 13th - The Ark - Me, Kvon and more...

Chicago - Feb. 14th - Lakeshore Theater - Me, Kvon and more...

Dallas - Feb. 20th - House of Blues - Me, Kvon and more...

San Francisco - Feb. 26-28 - Cobb's Comedy Club - Me, Kvon, Ali Mafi

Sacramento - Mar. 5-7 - Sacto Punchline - Me, Kvon, Ali Mafi

DC - April 25th - Lisner Auditorium - Tickets Not Yet Available

Also, please take a second to vote for my really good friend, comedian Sam Tripoli (who plays the cop in this picture) for the Howard Stern Radio contest. Go to this link and scroll to the bottom right - www.Sirius.com/howardstern You have till Nov. 30th to vote and it only takes a second. Please do vote for him as he's one of the funniest comics working today and deserves this.

Lastly, I'd like to thank Nick Saglimbeni for taking this picture. You can see more of Nick's work at www.slickforce.com

Happy Thanksgiving,

Maz

Racial Profiling

Below is an op-ed from today's San Francisco Chronicle



Racial or ethnic profiling is nothing new. In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Arabs and Muslims in America are often the targets of ethnic profiling, despite the argument that racial and ethnic profiling runs contrary to American values. Counterterrorism strategists argue that targeting particular ethnicities or races during investigation is a more efficient way to catch perpetrators. They may also argue that while not all Arabs and Muslims are terrorists, all the terrorists who attacked us on Sept. 11 were Arabs or Muslims. Yet the greatest damage done by this practice is not violation of civil liberties but this: Profiling doesn't work.

A recent study on a secret Department of Homeland Security operation code-named "Frontline" and spearheaded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, revealed damning evidence against the use of ethnic or racial profiling in counterterror operations.

Operation Frontline was designed to "detect, deter and disrupt terror operations" among immigrants during the months leading up to the presidential election. An analysis of data obtained from the Department of Homeland Security through a lawsuit showed that an astounding 79 percent of the targets investigated were immigrants from Muslim-majority countries.

This policy was exposed by the numbers, despite numerous reassurances from DHS that racial, ethnic and religious criteria were not the basis of its investigations. The number of arrests made under national-security related charges? Zero. To put this in context, immigrants from Muslim countries were 1,280 times more likely to be targeted for investigations than immigrants from other countries. Despite that, not one national security-related charge was levied, even though the investigation targeted hundreds of immigrants who "fit a terrorist profile." One would think that such a massively inefficient policy would serve as a lesson for other law enforcement agencies. Yet the FBI is about to begin operating Dec. 1 under new attorney general guidelines that allow ethnic background, race and religion to be part of the criteria for launching investigations. This is a policy that flies in the face of everything we've come to know about the efficiency of racial profiling.

Racial and ethnic profiling is a genuine and important national security concern. Criticizing racial profiling can no longer be characterized by the right as the policy of dovish, immigrant-loving liberals. We know now that every dollar spent targeting innocent Arabs or Muslims could have been spent developing or following legitimate leads.

The Obama administration and the new Congress should make a legislative priority to ban racial profiling, without the loopholes that exist today, from all levels of law enforcement. The federal government should institute a system of data collection to ensure racial profiling is not being conducted illegally.

The End Racial Profiling Act would do just that, and is long overdue. As Operation Frontline and other operations have made clear, racial profiling is not aiding counterterrorism efforts but instead, unfortunately, impeding them.
Operation Frontline explained

To generate lists of individuals to target, ICE mined the databases of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), the Student and Exchange Information System (SEVIS), and the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology program (US-VISIT).
It took place from May 2004 through February 2005. Of the approximately 2,400 investigations conducted, about 2,000 were of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries.
National security-related arrests resulting: 0. Source: FOIA request to Department of Homeland Security

Yousef Munayyer is a policy analyst for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Washington, D.C. For more information, go to http://www.adc.org/.

Arab American Inaugural Celebration

Please join the Arab American Institute and Foundation for the Arab American Inaugural Celebration

Monday, January 19, 2009
7:00 to 11:00 pm

Fairmont Hotel Ballroom
2401 M Street, NW
Washington, DC

Featuring buffet reception, music, and guest performances by Dean Obeidallah and Aron Kader of Comedy Central’s Axis of Evil Comedy Tour

Tickets - $100

Thank You Congressman Emanuel

Emanuel Calls ADC to Repudiate Negative Comments About Arabs

Today, Congressman Rahm Emanuel, recently appointed White House Chief of Staff to President-Elect Barack Obama, called American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) President Mary Rose Oakar to repudiate negative comments about Arabs made by his father Benjamin Emanuel . In the phone call, Congressman Emanuel said, “From the fullness of my heart, I personally apologize on behalf of my family and me. These are not the values upon which I was raised or those of my family.”

During the phone call, Congressman Emanuel added, it is unacceptable to make remarks such as these against any ethnic or religious group. ADC President Mary Rose Oakar said, “We cannot allow Arabs and Muslims to be portrayed in these unacceptable terms. I welcome Rahm’s apology and his pledge to meet with our Community. I also thank our members and friends who responded who expressed concern about this matter. ”

Does It Ever End?

The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee urges you to take immediate action by using the contact info below to express your disappointment to President-Elect Obama and Congressman Rahm Emmanuel for the detestable anti-Arab remarks Emmanuel's father made this past week.

ADC wrote a letter to Congressman Emmauel and President-Elect Barack Obama asking the congressman to publicly repudiate the derogatory comments his father made. Benjamin Emmanuel was quoted by numerous Israeli and American publications as saying "Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."

There should be no place for such demeaning rhetoric and these comments are contrary to the very type change the President-Elect promised he would bring to America.

Please contact President-Elect Obama by fax at 202.228.5417 or through this online contact form . Contact Congressman Emmanuel by fax at 202.225.5603 or via E-mail at emma.jurado@mail.house.gov

YES WE DID!

Buy your YES WE DID products here

Foolishness!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phsTZXjLrH0&feature=related

YES WE DID!

Buy your YES WE DID products here

Victory Celebration!

You worked hard. Now on to the party!

7:00
Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
7920 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22102


7:30
Toad's Place of Richmond
140 Virginia Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Yes We Did!

Check this out!

Virginia Arab Americans for Obama-Biden

The Outreach Team is calling on YOU to help us Get Out the Vote.

Here are the contacts for each region:

Northern Virginia: Marwan Burgan: Marwanb99@aol.com

Central Virginia: Saba Shami sabashami@comcast.net

Tidewater area: Bassam Kawwas: bassam.kawwass@gmail.com

Northern Virginia Phone Bank Location & Times:
2nd floor, McLean Campaign for Change Office
7600 Colshire DriveMcLean, VA 22102 (It's very close to Tyson's Corner, just off Rt.123, near the Rt. 66 exit.)

Schedule: Saturday Nov. 1st & Sunday Nov. 2nd: 12 pm – 9 pm
Monday Nov. 3rd: 6pm – 9 pm Tuesday
Nov 4 Election Day: 11 am - 7 pm

Please Email Us at MEforObama08@gmail.com or call us at 703-855-7805
Your help will make the difference in winning this election.

Mail Back The Hate

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), in its continuing effort to combat hate and bigotry, has launched the Mail Back the Hate Campaign. This campaign is designed to counter the most recent attempt using the politics of fear as a tool to spread hate and division; the distribution of 28-million copies of "Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West." This professionally produced but seditious and fear mongering DVD was inserted into millions of newspapers across the country distributed primarily in those crucial swing states including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, Michigan, Florida, and Virginia among others. ADC has confirmed that the second phase of this project was started this past week with copies being mailed directly to voters across the country. The obvious intent by the New York-based Clarion Fund, which is responsible for this project, is to scare people and create hostility towards Arab and Muslim Americans as all Americans head to the polls on November 4th.

In response, ADC will use some of the resources of the recently-created Voter Protection Unit (VPU) by calling on all its supporters to mail back the hate and send the copies of “Obsession,” with their packages, to the ADC Voter Protection Unit. Those sending the DVD and its package may cover or remove their name and mailing address if they wish. Upon receipt of the DVDs, the ADC will mail back the packages of hate to the Clarion Fund.

Please mail all DVD’s and their packages to:
Voter Protection Unit
ADC
1732 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20007

To learn more about the ADC Voter Protection Unit (ADC-VPU) and to learn about your Voting Rights please click here.
To learn more about "Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West" please click here.

GET OUT THE ARAB AMERICAN VOTE!

I spent a pleasant evening at the Arab American Institute offices calling AAI volunteers asking them to sign up to call Arab American voters to encourage them to vote.

You know that we need to make an impact on this election. The stakes have never been higher—we can't afford to be silent. Because Arab Americans live in key battleground states across the nation, now, more than ever, our voice counts!

Right now, just an hour or two of your time can remind hundreds of Arab Americans to vote on Election Day. Your call will encourage them to GET OUT AND VOTE and give our constituency the visibility it deserves.

The Arab American Institute makes it easy. Here's how it works:

1. Fill out the simple form and
2. The AAI will send you an e-mail with details of how to log onto the Yalla Vote Virtual Phone Bank and get started. Then
3. Set aside time between 10:00 am and 8:30pm to call registered Arab American voters and remind them to vote on November 4th. The online call center lets you easily track and record our success!

Here's the beauty of this - there is no minimum number of calls you have to make. Many phone banks ask you to make a minimum number of calls and to make them from a call center. You can do this from home if you want. Also, when you go online, you get the info to make your first call. If you like it, make another - and another. If it's not for you, that's okay. Every call made is one more contact with an Arab American voter. Of course, the AAI and I would love it if you will make lots of calls!

It's easy. It's important. It's our voice. It's our future.
Yalla! Volunteer to help get out the Arab American VOTE!

Thank You Campbell Brown

Ya gotta see this!

PLANTING PEACE - TEACHING HOPE

You are invited to an evening with Daoud Nassar from Tent of Nations.

Thursday, October 16 from 8:00 to 10:00

Busboys and Poets
4251 S. Campbell Avenue
Shirlington, VA
703.379.9756

Daoud Nassar is a Palestinian Christian farmer whose family works its 100-acre farm and olive grove just outside the West Bank town of Bethlehem. It is on this farm that the family members strive to maintain a haven of peace and brotherhood through activities at Tent of Nations, a dynamic peace and local education center where international visitors, including Israelis of good will, join in farming and peace activities.

Cost: $15.00 desserts and drinks will be provided.

Seating is limited to first 60 so please contact Kay Plitt at kay@fotonna.org
to make your reservation by Friday, October 10 (You may pay at the door.)

Donations to FOTONNA will be welcomed! Friends of Tent of Nations North America (FOTONNA), a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization.

NDPAC Board member Dr. Ali Hossaini honored at 20th Candidate Night in Northern Virginia

Long time activist, community leader, and NDPAC board member Dr. Ali Hossaini was awarded the Arab American Institute’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the president of the Arab American Institute Dr. James Zogby at the AAI’s 20th annual candidates night dinner at the Crystal Gateway Marriot in Arlington Virginia .

The dinner was attended by 400 people and several elected officials including Governor Tim Kaine, Congressman Jim Moran, Congressman Tom Davis, Delegate Brian Moran.

Dr. Hossani was born in 1928 In Basra Iraq, graduated from the American University of Beirut in 1953, and moved to the US in 1955. Dr. Hossaini lived and worked at several medical centers in the country and finally settled in Virginia where. He was the director of the blood bank at the Medical College of Virginia as well as director of the Family Blood Grouping Laboratories.

Congratulations, Dr. Hossaini, and thank you for decades of dedicated service to our community!

Governor Kaine at NDPAC’s Event

The NDPAC hosted more than 40 business leaders where they socialized with and listened to Governor Tim Kaine’s take on current affairs including the presidential elections. Governor Kaine is the National Co-Chair of the Obama-Biden Campaign.

Two surprise political celebrities attended the affair - Congressman Jim Moran and Delegate Brian Moran, the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus in the House of Delegates. At hand were several officials of the state party including Pixie Bell, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Virginia along with representatives from the many campaigns.

How Racism Works

What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?

What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain were still married to the first woman to whom he said "I do?"

What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?

What if Cindy McCain had graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama were a member of the “Keating 5"?

What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

And, don't forget: What if Obama had an unwed, pregnant, teenage daughter......

Important Voting Information

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has established the Voter Protection Unit to work full-time to protect the Arab and Muslim American communities from attempts at chilling our right to vote and to respond to fear tactics designed to promote hate, division, and hostility against the Arab and Muslim American communities.

This special unit is composed of three attorneys in Washington, and one in Dearborn. The ADC needs your support!

This is an extra-budgetary emergency project and the costs for the Voter Protection Unit do not fall within the ADC annual budget. It will cost $15,000 and the ADC is asking for your support with the goal of raising the necessary funds to operation the Voter Protection Unit until the presidential election.

Please help the ADC launch this operation as we work together to defeat discrimination, stereotypes, and hate-mongering during this critical time. Please help raise the $15,000 by the November 4th election. This will ensure the full-time operation of the ADC Voter Protection Unit. You may send your donation by clicking here or mail it to the ADC National Office, Voter Protection Unit, 1732 Wisconsin Ave, NW. Washington, DC 20007. Please click here to print the donation form and mail it with your contribution.

Thank you

Obama & Biden in Fredericksburg

UPDATE: Here's the Washington Post story on the HUGE rally!


Change We Need Rally with Barack Obama and Joe Biden

Saturday, September 27th
Gates Open: 3:00. Program Begins: 5:15.

Ball Circle
University of Mary Washington
1301 College Ave.
Fredericksburg, VA

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is strongly encouraged. Space is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For security reasons, please do not bring bags and please limit personal items. Signs and banners are not permitted.

How Will Arab Americans Vote?

The survey says...

AAI Candidates' Nights

Miami will play host to the first of many Candidates' Nights that AAI is hosting in key battleground states. Florida, Michigan, California, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey and New York are all hosting a Candidates' Night or Issues Forum in the next six weeks. Don't see your state on the list? Volunteer to host an event. These events offer an excellent opportunity to hear from and speak with local candidates and elected officials in addition to surrogates from both the McCain and Obama campaigns.

AAI's 20th Annual Northern Virginia Candidates Night

This year is going to be BIG! It's our 20th event! We moved to a new, bigger location because of repeated sell outs!

Sunday, October 5, 2008 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Registration: 6:00pm - 7:00pm Program: 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Crystal City Marriott
1700 Jefferson Highway
Arlington, VA

Ckick here to order tickets by mail or click here to order online.

Middle Eastern Festival

This one is one of the great ones. I've been attending for years.

September 5, 6, 7
Friday: Noon - 10 pm
Saturday: Noon - 10 pm
Sunday: Noon - 3 pm
Food services close at 9:00 pm on Friday & Saturday

Live Entertainment Friday & Saturday After 6 PM

Middle Eastern Food Items
Delicious Pastries
Rummage Sale
White Elephant Sale
Books
Plants
Jewelry
Religious Articles
Raffles

St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church
4335 Sixteenth Street, N.W., Washington,
202.723.5335

Gaza Relief

NAAMA - DC Area Chapter invites you an IFTAR dinner to support Gaza Relief

Thursday September 18 @ 6:30

Bamian Restaurant
5634 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, VA
703.820.7880

Donation: $ 100 per person

To RSVP or for more information, please contact Dr. Hoda Makkawi, naamadcchapter@gmail.com , 703.919.1774

Funny Stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_1hYyV7tes

14th Annual Arab American Open

Today at the Mystic Creek Golf Club in Camp Dearborn - Hosted by the American Arab Chamber of Commerce.

Does anybody have a report from the colf course?

Mary Rose Oakar to Chair DNC Rules Committee

ADC President and Former Congresswoman, Mary Rose Oakar, has been appointed by DNC Chairman Howard Dean to Chair the Rules Committee for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

The DNC Convention will be held in Denver, CO, from August 25 through August 28th. The Rules Committee will establish the procedural rules under which the Convention will operate and nominate the permanent officers of the Convention. These recommendations are made to ensure that the Convention can efficiently and effectively proceed with important business, including the nomination of the Democratic Candidate for President. The Rules Committee will present its report on the Rules of the Convention on Monday, August 25.

Paris for President

I can't believe that I'd actually post a Paris Hilton video here but this is too funny. Watch her take a shot at McCain.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Arab Americans For Barack Obama

Check this out!

See you at the KaboBBQ

The Arab American Institute is having a KaboBBQ!

Saturday, July 26th, 3:30 p.m

Mason District Park
Annandale, VA

Entertainment will include soccer and other games, there will be hotdogs and hamburgers, as well as delicious food from Lebanese Taverna and Jerusalem Restaurant.

This is an excellent opportunity to meet new people and learn more about the Yalla Vote '08 campaign. Admission and food are free!

Visit the Yalla Vote website for more details or contact Giselle at cr@aaiusa.org.

A Little Break From Politics For Some SlamBall!

SlamBall is back for Summer 2008 and this season it has two Arab American players. Nick Shwaery (left) from Florida and Ameer Ismail (right) from Michigan were rookie teammates on the Hombres. They helped the Hombres reach the semi-finals and were one shot away from making the finals.

Nick is a basketball player who earned his graduate education with a basketball scholarship to New York Institute of Technology and Ameer is a football player and an All-American from Western Michigan University . Both of these powerful athletes provided strength to the Hombres’ defense. They beat out hundreds of competitors from around the country for positions on the Hombres’ roster.

Nick, a Web designer, designed the Slamball court where the athletes played. You will be able to see it on CBS later this year. He also created Slamball’s interactive blog

newdominionPAC Dinner With Our Next Governor, Brian Moran

Once again, the newdominionPAC hosted a dinner with a government leader in Virginia. On April 30, we were honored to have as our guest, our friend, Delegate Brian Moran.

To the right is a photo of Delegate Moran with a few of the regulars.

It's always a special time when the newdominionPAC members can get together for good food, good conversation and a little politics. We talk, we eat...wow, did we eat. It was my first time at Me Jana in Arlington. My friend, Saba Shami, is a gracious host and he outdid himself when he selected the restaurant.

It was good to have some time with Delegate Moran to hear his views on the issues of the day and for him to hear ours. You'll be hearing more about Delegate Moran after the November election.

Arab American Institute's 20th Annual Northern Virginia Candidates Night!

Sunday, October 5
6:30- 9:30

Crystal City Marriot
Arlington, Virginia

Congressional and senate candidates, along with representatives from the presidential campaigns, will be there to talk with you.

To learn more about this great event, please contact Maram Abdelhamid at 202.429.9210 x13.

Yalla Vote '08
Our Voice. Our Future

Mary Rose Oaker Presentation

The Impact of September 11 on the Middle Eastern Community in the US

The Honorable Mary Rose Oaker, National President of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)

7:30 to 9:30 pm, Thursday, May15

Geneva Hall (Second floor of the Education Building)
Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church
One Chevy Chase Circle NW (At Chevy Chase Parkway)
Washington, DC 20015

For more information please call The Rev. Fuad Khouri, 202.309.4980 or email: RedeemerDC@aol.com

Solidarity Rally For Nakba - The Palestinian Catastrophe

60 Years of Oppression and Dispossession

4:00 pm, Friday, May 16
Lafayette Park (North side of the White House)
Washington

This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the Nakba, the 1948 forced exile of Palestinians from their homeland and the dispossession of Palestinians from their properties.

Sponsored by A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism), the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, and the American Muslims for Palestine.

Help spread the word about the May 16 demonstration. Click here to view a printable flyer (PDF).

For more information call 202.544.3389 x14Email dc@answercoalition.org

STAND UP: Muslim American Comics Come of Age

It’s an age-old American tradition: immigrant groups take up comedy to fight against discrimination. One path to understanding is to make people laugh. Now, Muslim-Americans have come forward to help dismantle the stereotypes and hatred that have surged since September 11, 2001.

STAND UP: Muslim American Comics Come of Age is the story of five comedians: Ahmed Ahmed, Tissa Hami, Dean Obeidallah, Azhar Usman and Maysoon Zayid. Catch it on PBS on Mother's Day.

Al-Nakba Commemoration: Palestine, 60 Years of Ethnic Cleansing 1948 – 2008

On the National Mall, West of the Reflecting Pool
Jefferson Drive and 3rd St SW
Washington DC

2:00 to 4:00, Saturday, May 17

Palestinians worldwide commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Nakba "the catastrophe" - the expulsion and dispossession of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes and land and the destruction of their villages in 1948.

Sponsored by: Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace (WIAMEP), American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC,) Sharing Jerusalem, Vineeta Foundation, American Palestinian Women Association (APWA)

For more information, please contact: Nabil Mohamad organizing@adc.org Brian Hennessey bhennessey@bluecrab.org 202.378.0868

Day After Mother’s Day Cluster Bomb Call-in

Make a phone call, save a life!

Join the national Day After Mother’s Day Cluster Bomb Call-in on Monday, May 12. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) joins the Friends Committee on National Legislation in its campaign to ban cluster bombs.

No mother should lose her child to a cluster bomb. Unfortunately, children are drawn to unexploded cluster submunitions thinking that they are toys. Children between the ages of 5-15 have accounted for almost half of the world's cluster bomb casualties.

More than 100 governments, including all major NATO allies, will gather in Dublin, Ireland to negotiate a global treaty banning cluster bombs on May 19. The U.S. government won't be there, and it is actively working to undermine the treaty.

We need you to help send a message to the rest of the world that millions of Americans stand with the goal of preventing harm to children and others from cluster bombs. All you need to do is make one or two phone calls between now and Monday, May 12 to help generate cosponsors for the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S.594/H.R.1755). With your help, one-quarter of the Senate will cosponsor the bill by the time negotiations begin. We need to generate six new cosponsors in the next two weeks-a difficult, but possible, task.

Be part of the national "Day After Mother's Day Cluster Bomb Call-in" on Monday, May 12 and ask your Senators to co-sponsor this legislation.

Happy First Anniversary to Arab Detroit!

This week marks the first anniversary of Arab Detroit. Congratulations to my friend of 50 years, Warren David! (Where did the years go!)

Warren has been a strong leader of our community and it shows. Arab Detroit is viewed by visitors in the U.S., Canada and over 50 countries globally. Last month Arab Detroit received over 200,000 page views and their E-News is sent to over 13,000 email subscribers.

Maysoon's Kids

Maysoon's Kids was founded in April 2001 by comedian Maysoon Zayid to address the needs of the growing population of disabled children in Palestine. For three months a year, Maysoon personally goes to different Palestinian refugee camps and villages (Dheisha, Askar Ijdeed, Amiree, Kalandia, Jalazon, Silwad, Deir Ammar, Deir Abu Misheil, Khalil, Abu Deis, Lid, and Jenin.)

In the camps, Maysoon runs an art program for disabled, wounded, and at risk refugee children. The program also provides diapers, shoes, toys, and underclothing - all made in Palestine - for Palestinian orphans as well as eye exams, glasses, computers, and prescription medicine for disabled and wounded Palestinian refugee children. Maysoon is promoting the importance of education by providing tutors for high school seniors so they can graduate and is finding families to sponsor their college education in the US.

4th Annual National Arab American Service Day

Saturday, May 17

Powell Elementary School
Northwest Washigton, DC

Arab American communities across the U.S. will be doing service together. Be a part of it in Washington!

Join the Arab American Institute Foundation (AAIF), the Network of Arab American Professionals (NAAP), and Serve DC to help beautify Powell Elementary School in the Georgia-Petworth neighborhood. This year we are teaming up with AmeriCorps members in the Washington, D.C. area and combining Arab American Service Day with All Corps Service Day. At Powell Elementary School, the only thing separating the students from gang members in the alley on the south side is a chain link fence. This is why all of our Service Day activities, including the mural we paint, will share the common goal of gang prevention through positive action. Please be a part of this special effort to improve our local neighborhood!

To volunteer, please click here to sign up on the AAI website. You can also contact Yasmeen Shaheen-McConnell at 202.429.9210, ext. 30.

Join Mark Warner in Alexandria on Monday!

Mark Warner will be in Alexandria on Monday, May 5th, to kick off his campaign for the U.S. Senate.

7:00 pm

The Carlyle Club
411 John Carlyle St.
Alexandria, VA

To R.S.V.P. for this event, please click here.

Caramel

Have you seen Caramel? If so, please let us know what you think of it. The movie is entirely in Arabic with English subtitles (in the US.) Here's their official website (in French.)

Help Elect Barack Obama The Next President Of The United States

Do you want Arab Americans to make a difference in this election? Then pack your bags and get ready to head to Pennsylvania! Turning out the vote in Philadelphia could be the difference between a win and a loss in Pennsylvania!

Volunteering is one of the most effective (and fun!) ways you can make a difference. Thanks to very generous donations from Arab American community leaders, expenses including transportation and housing for Arab American volunteers will be covered! (All you have to pay for about is your meals.)

Primary day is Tuesday, April 22 and group trips to Philadelphia will be organized from New York and Washington, DC the weekends of:
Friday, April 11 to Sunday, April 13
Friday, April 18 to Sunday, April 20
Friday, April 18 to Wednesday, April 23

If you're ready for change, please respond to arabamericansforobama@yahoo.com with the following information:
1) Name:
2) Address, City, State:
3) Cell Phone:
4) E-mail:
5) Names of others in your group, if any:
6) Do you have a car?
7) If yes, would you be willing to drive other volunteers?
8) Are you willing to drive a rental van? (Drivers must be at least 25 years old and have a clean driving record)
9) Do you need housing?
10) Please indicate which trip you would like:
Friday, April 11 to Sunday, April 13
Friday, April 18 to Sunday, April 20
Friday, April 18 to Wednesday, April 23

The American Palestinian Women’s Association Is Celebrating Women’s Day

Thursday, March 20, 7:00 pm

Casablanca Restaurant
1504 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

703.549.6464

Tickets are $30.00 for delicious Middle Eastern food, soft drinks, music, dance, and fun the Palestinian way!

Proceeds will benefit American Palestinian Women and Youth programs in the VA, MD, and Washington DC Metropolitan Area. APWA is a non-profit, non-political, secular, tax-exempt, registered organization established in 2004 by concerned American Palestinian women in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington DC Metropolitan area providing cultural and social exchanges for American Palestinian women and their families.

For tickets and more information please call Amal 703.941.3799; Dina 703.658.4547, or Samira 703.938.3102.

Captain James Yee, Former Muslim Army Chaplain Speaks Out

Wednesday, March 19 - 6:00 p.m.

Windows Lounge
Building 39
David A. Clarke Law School
University of the District of Columbia
4200 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington

At Guantanamo Bay he protested prisoner treatment - then he became a prisoner and he received the same treatment. Hear his first hand account of the situation at “Gitmo.” Sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union National Capital Area (ACLU NCA;) the University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke Law School; the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee; Amnesty International; and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Light Refreshments served

For more information and to r.s.v.p., please contact Johnny Barnes, ACLU-NCA 202.457.0800 Johnny.Barnes@aclu-nca.org

Formal Censure for Congressman Steve King

On March 7, Iowa Congressman Steve King (R) said "The radical Islamists, the al-Qaida ... would be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on Sept. 11 because they would declare victory in this war on terror" if Barack Obama were elected president. He added, "His middle name does matter. It matters because they read a meaning into that."

This is an outrage!

Readers from around the globe visit this blog and I'm calling on all of you to take action or these types of attacks on our culture will increase. We cannot let him get away with this ugliness.

Do not let Congressman King, the Ranking Member of House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, off the hook for making these bigoted and inflammatory statements! Call your member of Congress and express your belief that King should be formally censured by Congress. You can visit the Arab American Institute website and find out who your representative is, and how to contact him or her.

Do you think it might have been a mistake? Well, this guy is so full of himself that he posted a transcript of his remarks on the top of his homepage.

Check out the Huffington Post's article on this along with comments from AAI's Jim Zogby and from John Ridley.

Yalla, get going and join in the action against him and his remarks. If you need help taking action, please contact Leigh O'Neill, AAI Government Relations and Policy Analyst, at 202.429.9210.

Lebanon: Three Years After Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri

The Middle East Program of the Woodrow Wilson Center Presents
Lebanon: Three Years After Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri

Featuring Hon. Charles Rizk, Lebanese Minister of Justice and Hon. Jeffrey Feltman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Near Eastern Affairs Bureau, U.S. Department of State and former U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon (2004-2008)

Thursday, February 28, 10:30am -11:30am

6th Floor, Flom Auditorium
Woodrow Wilson Center
Ronald Reagan Building
Washington

Please RSVP to mep@wilsoncenter.org or fax to 202.691.4184

Name and Title:___________________________________

Affiliation:________________________________________

E-mail:___________________________________________

Seating is limited and is on a first-come, first-served basis.

A photo ID is required for entry.

www.wilsoncenter.org

ADC Annual Convention

Please join the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) for its 2008 Annual National Convention - Securing the Principles of Liberty.

Thursday, June 12 through Sunday, June 15
Grand Hyatt Hotel
1000 H Street NW
Washington, DC

The hotel rate is $129 a night for single/double occupancy.

Register early as the ADC Convention sells out every year! This year, the earlier you register, the bigger the savings.

JJ Dinner

Thanks to Saba Shami, once again, the newdominionPAC scored a great table for the JJ Dinner in Richmond. As we were last year, we were right up front neat where the speakers came out. It was good to hear from Senators Clinton and Obama and to see the newDominion PAC friends again.

The Arab American Institute (AAI) is circulating a petition amongst Arab Americans throughout the country in an effort to communicate a clear and succinct Arab American agenda to the eventual Democratic and Republican presidential nominees. They will deliver this petition to the nominees at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in August and September, respectively.

It is important for Arab Americans to sign this petition to demonstrate our community’s influence and commitment through our numbers. They will deliver your name, city, and state to the nominees when we present the petition. All other information including email, street address, and telephone number will be kept strictly confidential.


Yalla Vote 2008 National Petition
At home and abroad, America faces serious challenges. The results of the 2008 presidential election will in large part decide our nation's future course.

As concerned Americans, here is what we seek in our next president:

At home, we have become increasingly concerned by the loss of civility in our national discourse and the erosion of basic civil liberties.
We want leadership that builds our national community, promotes respect for all faiths and ethnicities, and recognizes that within our diversity lies our nation's greatest strength.

We seek the protection of those fundamental Constitutional freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights and a renewed commitment to the rule of law.
Abroad, we are deeply troubled by the degree to which a unilateral approach has left America more isolated, less respected, and less secure in a changing world.

We want an American foreign policy that will bring peace with justice and self-determination to the Palestinians, reconciliation and full sovereignty to Lebanon, and security and an end to the occupation and war for the people of Iraq.

We want a strong America that leads by example, supporting the implementation of outstanding U.N. Security Council Resolutions and complying with international conventions.

We want a foreign policy that restores America's image abroad and addresses the root causes of extremism rather than fueling it; a foreign policy that provides for national security by strongly advocating tolerance of ethnic and religious differences, respect for human rights, and freedom from arbitrary violence and oppression – the same American ideals we hold and promote at home.
These are the issues we seek to bring to the national debate and these are the issues on which we will base our vote in 2008.

Protest in Support of Gaza

The A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition, joins with the National Council of Arab Americans, Free Palestine Alliance, Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, Palestinian American Women’s Association, Al-Awda Palestine Right of Return Coalition and other anti-war and progressive organizations in calling for emergency protests demanding an immediate end to the Israeli blockade and siege of Gaza. Protests will take place on January 25-26 at Israeli embassies, consulates, U.S. federal buildings and other locations.

More than 1.5 million Palestinian people living in Gaza are suffering from life-threatening shortages of food, medicines, fuel and other vital necessities, caused by the Israeli military’s sealing-off of one of the most densely populated areas of the world. Gaza City is blacked-out at night, including hospitals. Doctors must examine patients by candlelight.

The crisis is growing more severe by the day. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the World Food Programme, which together supply food to more than two-thirds of the population, have stated that unless the blockade is lifted they will be forced to stop operations by this weekend. A cut-off in aid would threaten an already food-deprived population with mass starvation. The great majority of Gaza residents are from refugee families, driven out of other parts of Palestine when the state of Israel was created in 1948.

The Israeli blockade is in clear violation of international law, which strictly forbids collective punishment and labels it a war crime. Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) states in part: “No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.”
Collective punishment is a war crime. Imposing a blockade on the population in Gaza is undeniably a form of collective punishment. The U.S. government, which gives billions of dollars in military and economic aid to Israel every year, shares the guilt for this war crime.

Among the cities where emergency protests will take place are:

Washington DC: Friday, Jan. 25, 4pm, at the Israeli Embassy, 3514 International Dr. N.W.

San Francisco, CA: Friday, Jan. 25, 4 6 p.m., Israeli Consulate, 456 Montgomery St. (near California)

Anaheim, CA: Saturday, Jan. 26, 1 p.m. 512 S. Brookhurst St. (Bet. Orange Ave. & Broadway)

Costa Mesa, CA: Friday, Jan. 25, 5-7 pm, vigil at Bristol & Anton

New York, NY: Saturday, Jan. 26, 1 p.m., at the Israeli Consulate, 43rd St. and 2nd Ave.

Chicago, IL: Tues., Jan. 29, 5pm at the Lakeshore Theater, 3175 North Broadway (at benefit for the Friends of the Israeli Defense Force). Initiated by ISM, endorsed by ANSWER and others. Call 773-463-0311 for more information.

Seattle: Friday, January 25, 4 p.m., Westlake Park, 4th & Pine Sts.

Sioux Falls, SD: Saturday, January 26th, 12 Noon, 12th & Phillips

Cleveland: Saturday, January 26, 2pm, Meet at 1616 W. 25th St. at Ken Zaman Restaurant; Endorsed by: Cleveland Middle East Peace Forum, Interfaith Council for Peace in the Middle East, NOAC, Immigrant Support Network

Charlotte, NC: Jan. 26 Forum, 4pm, Charlotte Energy Solutions, 337 Baldwin Ave; Organized by Charlotte Action

Applications Sought for Arab-American Leadership Training

The Hala Salaam Maksoud Foundation for Arab-American Leadership is now welcoming applications for its intensive, 5-day training seminars scheduled for 2008 in Washington, DC. The 2008 First Round seminars are scheduled for:

March, Weds 12-Sun 16
June, Weds 25- Sun 29
September, Sat 13- Weds 17
December, Sat 6- Weds 10

Applicants for all seminars are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, and all applications for the March seminar should be submitted by Friday, February 15, 2008.

There is no charge for the training sessions, which are held in Washington, DC, but participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation. The training will be led and coordinated by the Hala Foundation's Program Director, Dr. Hussein Ibish. Participants must commit to attending the full five days of the program.

Applicants should be young Arab-American professionals who have completed their education and have already begun their professional careers, or those in the final stages of a Ph.D. program. They should have a demonstrable commitment to advocacy on behalf of Arab-American concerns, and a desire to devote substantial time and effort to leadership on behalf of the community.

The Leadership Training Program is designed to create a national network of highly trained, informed and focused young Arab-American professionals equipped to take on the advocacy and organizational efforts required for community leadership. The Leadership Program provides extensive training in:

Command of the Issues: mastery of both information and arguments
Presentation Skills: making the case effectively
Interpersonal Skills: making friends and influencing people
Organizational Skills: mobilizing the community
Collaborative Skills: building effective teams
Coalition Building Techniques: finding unexpected allies
Networking: building a national network of trained activists
Continuous Improvement: developing long-term relationships with trainees

Applicants should send a letter of interest explaining their desire to become community leaders or activists, a CV and a writing sample or any other relevant material to:

The Hala Salaam Maksoud Foundation
815 Connecticut Ave. NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC
20006

Or email them to director@halafoundation.org

Please visit http://www.halafoundation.org for more details Email director@halafoundation.org with any questions

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the nation's leading, non-sectarian non-partisan, grassroots Arab-American civil rights organization, urges Congress to pass the End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA) this year. Passage of ERPA is one of ADC's top legislative priorities for the second half of the 110th Congress. Please contact your members of Congress asking them to cosponsor, support and pass ERPA.

At the end of last year, before Congress adjourned for its winter break, Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) introduced the End Racial Profiling Act in both the House of Representatives and US Senate. To read text of both bills please click on their bill numbers S 2481 and HR 4611.

Racial profiling occurs when law enforcement relies on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion in selecting which individuals to subject to routine or spontaneous investigatory activities, except when relying on a specific suspect description. This practice violates our nation's basic constitutional commitment to equality before the law. Racial profiling is also contrary to effective law enforcement -- whether used as a tool in the war against drugs or the war against terrorism, profiling fuels the perception in minority communities that the criminal justice system is unfair and undermines the trust between the police and the communities they serve.

The overwhelming majority of law enforcement agents discharge their duties with honorable intentions. Nevertheless, empirical evidence from around the nation reveals that profiling by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies is widespread, and that, despite the efforts of some states and local law enforcement agencies to address this problem, federal legislation is necessary.

The End Racial Profiling Act builds on the guidance issued by the Department of Justice in June 2003, which bans federal law enforcement officials from engaging in racial profiling. ERPA would apply this prohibition to state and local law enforcement, close the loopholes to its application, include a mechanism for enforcement of the new policy, require data collection to monitor the government's progress toward eliminating profiling, and provide best practice incentive grants to state and local law enforcement agencies that will enable agencies to use federal funds to bring their departments into compliance with the requirements of the bill. The DOJ guidance was a good first step, but ERPA is needed to "end racial profiling in America," as President Bush pledged to do.

Contact Congress today asking them to pass the End Racial Profiling Act!

John Zogby On The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

John Zogby, President and CEO of the polling firm Zogby International and an Arab American Institute board member, will be the guest on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" on Wednesday, January 9 at 11 p.m. EST. Zogby, considered by many the top pollster in the United States, will analyze and handicap the presidential races the day after the pivotal New Hampshire primary.

With the Writers Guild of America strike still going, the show promises to feature a candid conversation highlighted by the wit and wisdom of Jon and John. It should be as enlightening as entertaining.

If you can't catch the show on Wednesday, it will be rebroadcast on Thursday, January 10 at 8 p.m. EST on Comedy Central. John Zogby was one of five founding board members of AAI in 1985 and is the brother of AAI President James Zogby.

Arab American Quiz From The AAI Website

This quiz tests your knowledge of Arab Americans in several key areas: religion, geography, population & culture. Many of the answers can be found on the AAI website. Enjoy!