Saturday, December 8
11:00 to 4:00
Experience the ambience of a Middle Eastern souk (market) right here in Washington. Enjoy an afternoon of music, coffee, food, henna painting, and the sales of textiles, pottery, jewelry and gifts from North Africa and the Middle East. Celebrate the annual olive harvest in Palestine and support Palestinian farmers by purchasing bottles of fair trade extra virgin olive oil and olive oil soap imported from Palestine. Bring your family and friends to this fun and vibrant event!
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. The Jerusalem Fund is located in the ground floor of the Potomac Plaza Building at 2425 Virginia Ave, NW, walking distance from the Foggy Bottom metro stop.
For information, please call 202.338.1958.
The Jerusalem Fund's cultural program promotes the work of artists from Palestine as well as from the Arab and Islamic worlds through art exhibits, book signing, film screenings and musical performances. The cultural activities at the Jerusalem Fund Gallery, located in Washington, are being made available to a wider audience through our website and through lesson plans for educators and students of all ages.
The Palestine Center
2425 Virginia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20037
202.338.1290
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A Personal Struggle Against the Wall in Bethlehem with Daoud Nassar
Wednesday, December 5
12:30 to 2:00
The Palestine Center
In the hills south of Jesus Christ's birthplace, Daoud Nassar fights to keep his family's 100-acre farm, Daher's Vineyard, from being seized by Israel. The Nassars are a Palestinian Christian family and Daoud is one of eight grandchildren of Daher, the farmer who bought the land south of Bethlehem in 1924. The Nassar’s farm stands alone, surrounded by Jewish settlements and the Wall. Mr. Nassar will discuss his family's work of non-violent resistance to the occupation, the future of his family's farm and the symbolic and political significance of this Palestinian land.
He and his family have established "The Tent of Nations" which provides arts, drama and education to the children of the villages and refugee camps of the region as well as a Women's Educational Center in the adjacent Palestinian village of Nahalin that offers classes in computer literacy, English and a workshop on how to shape society and decision-making.This briefing is free and open to the public.
A light lunch will be served to registered guests at 12:30. The briefing and question/answer period will follow from 1:00 to 2:00. Registration is required. Unregistered guests will not be admitted. To register, send the name of the event, your name, affiliation and contact information to rsvp@palestinecenter.org or call 202.338.1958 ext.11 by noon Tuesday.
12:30 to 2:00
The Palestine Center
In the hills south of Jesus Christ's birthplace, Daoud Nassar fights to keep his family's 100-acre farm, Daher's Vineyard, from being seized by Israel. The Nassars are a Palestinian Christian family and Daoud is one of eight grandchildren of Daher, the farmer who bought the land south of Bethlehem in 1924. The Nassar’s farm stands alone, surrounded by Jewish settlements and the Wall. Mr. Nassar will discuss his family's work of non-violent resistance to the occupation, the future of his family's farm and the symbolic and political significance of this Palestinian land.
He and his family have established "The Tent of Nations" which provides arts, drama and education to the children of the villages and refugee camps of the region as well as a Women's Educational Center in the adjacent Palestinian village of Nahalin that offers classes in computer literacy, English and a workshop on how to shape society and decision-making.This briefing is free and open to the public.
A light lunch will be served to registered guests at 12:30. The briefing and question/answer period will follow from 1:00 to 2:00. Registration is required. Unregistered guests will not be admitted. To register, send the name of the event, your name, affiliation and contact information to rsvp@palestinecenter.org or call 202.338.1958 ext.11 by noon Tuesday.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Please Support the ADC Research Institute
I received the below message from the ADC Research Institute. They need our financial help. The ADC has been a big help to me and to countless others. I urge you to support them now. Even if you have not directly benefitted from them, you can be certain that their work has benefitted you indirectly. They might have prevented something from happening to you by their strong voice and presence. Please support them today.
Another year is coming to an end and we'd like to take some time to let you know a few of the things on which ADC has been working. Your 100% tax deductible donation helps ADC do its work and we invite you to continue to support ADC and the ADC Research Institute (ADC-RI).
WATCHLIST GROWS TO INCLUDE 755,000 NAMES;ADC REPORTS 50% OF COMPLAINTS TO DHS OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
According to an October 23, 2007 USA Today article, a new US government report indicated that the "watch list" used by many federal agencies has now grown to include 755,000 names. The size of the list, typically used to check people entering the country through land border crossings, airports and sea ports, has been growing by 200,000 names a year since 2004. ADC is the only organization with a team of attorneys working to help the thousands of Arab Americans with names matching many on the watch list. According to the most recent statistics from the US Department of Homeland Security, ADC has reported approximately 50% of the watch list complaintsto their Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
ADC TAKES THE LEAD IN EFFORTS AGAINST ISLAMO-FASCISM WEEK
In September of this year, ADC learned of a campaign called "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" (IFAW). After investigation, ADC determined the campaign, although touted as educational, does nothing more than spread hate and fear of Arabs and Islam by spreading false, hateful, and biased messages. While ADC values the principle of free speech it believes hateful speech cannot be condoned and should not be allowed to permeate American campuses.
So, ADC immediately contacted all universities listed as participants by organizer and leading Islamophobe David Horowitz. ADC informed these institutions that they were listed as host institutions for IFAW, and expressed concern about the campaign. ADC received responses from numerous universities indicating that after they thoroughly searched student activity calendars, they found no events scheduled. Moreover, many went on to inform ADC that they disapproved of hate speech being promulgated on their campuses. These institutions were upset that their names had been listed, without their knowledge or consent, by the David Horowitz Freedom Center. These universities have asked for their names to be removed from the IFAW websites and lists. ADC's work helped to mitigate the effectiveness of IFAW.
ADC WORKS ON PASSAGE OF ANTI-HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION
A bill which provides for increased protection for all Americans, including Arab Americans, from being the victims of hate crimes has passed in the Senate. ADC, along with a diverse coalition of over 200 civil rights, faith-based, women's, labor, GLBT, and law enforcement organizations, has campaigned in support of this landmark civil rights bill for a decade. The bill provides assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies to combat hate crimes and amend federal law to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of violent, bias-motivated crimes.
ADC WORKS TO ADDRESS HATE CRIMES AGAINST ARAB AMERICANS;WOMAN SENTENCED WITH FEDERAL HATE CRIME AND WILL BE INCARCERATED
An Arab American woman came to work one morning and found an ominous and threatening letter in her office in Philadelphia. The letter included the phrases "Remember 9/11," "you and your kids will die like dogs," "tie onto the fence," "death," and other references to death and hanging. The woman contacted ADC, and ADC reported and worked with federal authorities on this case and was present at the sentencing hearing. The woman who left the note was recently sentenced to two years probation and will be incarcerated for the first eight months. She was also sentenced to 200 hours of community service which must be completed at a mosque. Additionally, she was mandated to take anger management and diversity training classes.
ADC-RI SPONSORS CULTURAL EVENTS:MARCEL KHALIFE IN CONCERT,ARABIAN SIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL, PHOTO EXHIBITS, AND MORE
ADC is co-sponsoring the Arabian Sights Film Festival in Washington, DC. ADC is also co-sponsoring Marcel Khalife and the Mayadine Ensemble performances at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, ADC will be hosting a photo exhibit depicting Arab American life at its National Headquarters building in Washington, DC.
ADC-RI RELEASES REPORT,EYEWITNESS LEBANON: AN INTERNATIONAL LAW INQUIRY
Eyewitness Lebanon, July - August 2006: An International Law Inquiry is the most extensive study to be released to date on the events in Lebanon during July and August 2006. The Report is based on detailed research from a wide variety of documented sources and includes first-hand interviews and accounts carried out by ADC-RI during a month-long fact finding mission. ADC-RI has documented the effect of the war on the civilian population in Lebanon and analyzed it in the context of international humanitarian law. Anyone who wants to look at how the war in Lebanon affected Lebanese civilians should read this report.
Click here to read the report.
ADC IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
During debate on a hate crimes bill, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) submitted information about the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and hate crimes directed against Arab Americans to the Congressional Record.
Click here to read about ADC in the Congressional Record.
WE NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE SEND YOUR100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO ADC-RI TODAY!
CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW
Another year is coming to an end and we'd like to take some time to let you know a few of the things on which ADC has been working. Your 100% tax deductible donation helps ADC do its work and we invite you to continue to support ADC and the ADC Research Institute (ADC-RI).
WATCHLIST GROWS TO INCLUDE 755,000 NAMES;ADC REPORTS 50% OF COMPLAINTS TO DHS OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
According to an October 23, 2007 USA Today article, a new US government report indicated that the "watch list" used by many federal agencies has now grown to include 755,000 names. The size of the list, typically used to check people entering the country through land border crossings, airports and sea ports, has been growing by 200,000 names a year since 2004. ADC is the only organization with a team of attorneys working to help the thousands of Arab Americans with names matching many on the watch list. According to the most recent statistics from the US Department of Homeland Security, ADC has reported approximately 50% of the watch list complaintsto their Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
ADC TAKES THE LEAD IN EFFORTS AGAINST ISLAMO-FASCISM WEEK
In September of this year, ADC learned of a campaign called "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week" (IFAW). After investigation, ADC determined the campaign, although touted as educational, does nothing more than spread hate and fear of Arabs and Islam by spreading false, hateful, and biased messages. While ADC values the principle of free speech it believes hateful speech cannot be condoned and should not be allowed to permeate American campuses.
So, ADC immediately contacted all universities listed as participants by organizer and leading Islamophobe David Horowitz. ADC informed these institutions that they were listed as host institutions for IFAW, and expressed concern about the campaign. ADC received responses from numerous universities indicating that after they thoroughly searched student activity calendars, they found no events scheduled. Moreover, many went on to inform ADC that they disapproved of hate speech being promulgated on their campuses. These institutions were upset that their names had been listed, without their knowledge or consent, by the David Horowitz Freedom Center. These universities have asked for their names to be removed from the IFAW websites and lists. ADC's work helped to mitigate the effectiveness of IFAW.
ADC WORKS ON PASSAGE OF ANTI-HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION
A bill which provides for increased protection for all Americans, including Arab Americans, from being the victims of hate crimes has passed in the Senate. ADC, along with a diverse coalition of over 200 civil rights, faith-based, women's, labor, GLBT, and law enforcement organizations, has campaigned in support of this landmark civil rights bill for a decade. The bill provides assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies to combat hate crimes and amend federal law to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of violent, bias-motivated crimes.
ADC WORKS TO ADDRESS HATE CRIMES AGAINST ARAB AMERICANS;WOMAN SENTENCED WITH FEDERAL HATE CRIME AND WILL BE INCARCERATED
An Arab American woman came to work one morning and found an ominous and threatening letter in her office in Philadelphia. The letter included the phrases "Remember 9/11," "you and your kids will die like dogs," "tie onto the fence," "death," and other references to death and hanging. The woman contacted ADC, and ADC reported and worked with federal authorities on this case and was present at the sentencing hearing. The woman who left the note was recently sentenced to two years probation and will be incarcerated for the first eight months. She was also sentenced to 200 hours of community service which must be completed at a mosque. Additionally, she was mandated to take anger management and diversity training classes.
ADC-RI SPONSORS CULTURAL EVENTS:MARCEL KHALIFE IN CONCERT,ARABIAN SIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL, PHOTO EXHIBITS, AND MORE
ADC is co-sponsoring the Arabian Sights Film Festival in Washington, DC. ADC is also co-sponsoring Marcel Khalife and the Mayadine Ensemble performances at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, ADC will be hosting a photo exhibit depicting Arab American life at its National Headquarters building in Washington, DC.
ADC-RI RELEASES REPORT,EYEWITNESS LEBANON: AN INTERNATIONAL LAW INQUIRY
Eyewitness Lebanon, July - August 2006: An International Law Inquiry is the most extensive study to be released to date on the events in Lebanon during July and August 2006. The Report is based on detailed research from a wide variety of documented sources and includes first-hand interviews and accounts carried out by ADC-RI during a month-long fact finding mission. ADC-RI has documented the effect of the war on the civilian population in Lebanon and analyzed it in the context of international humanitarian law. Anyone who wants to look at how the war in Lebanon affected Lebanese civilians should read this report.
Click here to read the report.
ADC IN THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
During debate on a hate crimes bill, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) submitted information about the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and hate crimes directed against Arab Americans to the Congressional Record.
Click here to read about ADC in the Congressional Record.
WE NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE SEND YOUR100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO ADC-RI TODAY!
CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Christmas Procession for Bethlehem
Saturday, December 22 11:00 - 2:00
Washington, DC Exact location TBD
As with last year's event, Mary and Joseph, with donkey, will lead the procession. Sing hymns, offer prayers, and hear messages of peace. Bethlehem, the city of Jesus' birth, is under occupation. All its residents, including Palestinian Christians, are suffering. Behind the wall that separates neighbor from neighbor, patient from hospital, student from school and farmer from land, Palestinian Christians will continue to bear witness to their faith this Christmas, as they have done for generations. Let us join our voices with theirs in seeking and offering hope for a better future.
Sponsored by the Ad Hoc Committee for Bethlehem and the Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace For updates on location and details, contact Samia Noursi at 703.255.4150.
Washington, DC Exact location TBD
As with last year's event, Mary and Joseph, with donkey, will lead the procession. Sing hymns, offer prayers, and hear messages of peace. Bethlehem, the city of Jesus' birth, is under occupation. All its residents, including Palestinian Christians, are suffering. Behind the wall that separates neighbor from neighbor, patient from hospital, student from school and farmer from land, Palestinian Christians will continue to bear witness to their faith this Christmas, as they have done for generations. Let us join our voices with theirs in seeking and offering hope for a better future.
Sponsored by the Ad Hoc Committee for Bethlehem and the Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace For updates on location and details, contact Samia Noursi at 703.255.4150.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Arab American History Conference
The University of Maryland
College Park., MD
December 7 to 9
For registration, contact:
Conference committee
Arab American Historical Foundation
P. O. Box 291159
Los Angeles, CA 90029
323.466-9800 818.507.0333
e-mail: newscircle@sbcglobal.net
www.arabamericanhistory.org
www.arab-american-affairs.net
Conference Speakers:
Dr. Anan Ameri
Director of the Arab American National Museum
Sami Asmar
Physicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Miles L. Bradbury
Professor, Department of History, University of Maryland
Suheil B. Bushrui
Director of the Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace Project at the Center for Heritage Resource Studies, University of Maryland
Dr. Sawsan El Hady
Egyptian scholar; former Professor of Arabic, University of Beijing and the University of New Zealand
Dr. Edmund Ghareeb
First Mustafa Barzani Scholar of Global Kurdish Studies at American University’s Center for Global Peace and Adjunct Professor of Middle East History and Politics in the School of International Service
Hon. Nick J. Rahall
Congressman, Fourth District, West Virginia
Prof. Paul Shackel
Associate Chair and Director of Undergraduate Studies Department of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Heritage Resource Studies, University of Maryland
Richard Shadyac, Esq.
Attorney and former executive director of ALSAC/St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital
Dr. Irfan Shahid
Professor of Arabic and Islamic Literature, Georgetown University
Michael Suleiman
Professor, University of Kansas
Henri Zoghaib
Director, The Center for Lebanese Heritage, Lebanese American University, Beirut
College Park., MD
December 7 to 9
For registration, contact:
Conference committee
Arab American Historical Foundation
P. O. Box 291159
Los Angeles, CA 90029
323.466-9800 818.507.0333
e-mail: newscircle@sbcglobal.net
www.arabamericanhistory.org
www.arab-american-affairs.net
Conference Speakers:
Dr. Anan Ameri
Director of the Arab American National Museum
Sami Asmar
Physicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Miles L. Bradbury
Professor, Department of History, University of Maryland
Suheil B. Bushrui
Director of the Kahlil Gibran Chair for Values and Peace Project at the Center for Heritage Resource Studies, University of Maryland
Dr. Sawsan El Hady
Egyptian scholar; former Professor of Arabic, University of Beijing and the University of New Zealand
Dr. Edmund Ghareeb
First Mustafa Barzani Scholar of Global Kurdish Studies at American University’s Center for Global Peace and Adjunct Professor of Middle East History and Politics in the School of International Service
Hon. Nick J. Rahall
Congressman, Fourth District, West Virginia
Prof. Paul Shackel
Associate Chair and Director of Undergraduate Studies Department of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Heritage Resource Studies, University of Maryland
Richard Shadyac, Esq.
Attorney and former executive director of ALSAC/St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital
Dr. Irfan Shahid
Professor of Arabic and Islamic Literature, Georgetown University
Michael Suleiman
Professor, University of Kansas
Henri Zoghaib
Director, The Center for Lebanese Heritage, Lebanese American University, Beirut
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Veterans Day
It's Veterans Day so check out the ASSOCIATION OF PATRIOTIC ARAB AMERICANS IN MILITARY. Jamal S. Baadani, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC has done a great job with this organization. Arab American veterans should consider joining the association.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Kucinich Will Introduce Privileged Resolution To Force Vote On Impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney
On Tuesday, November 6, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) will offer a privileged resolution on the House floor that will bring articles of impeachment against the Vice President, Richard B. Cheney. Following the introduction of the privileged resolution, Kucinich will hold a news conference in Room 2456 Rayburn at 3 p.m.
“The Vice President is cherry picking intelligence and selectively using facts in a manner that does not portray the complete picture,” Kucinich said. “The best option to prevent an unnecessary war with Iran is to impeach the Vice President, the lead cheerleader of the war. The Constitution gave Congress the power to impeach. Congress must use its power to restrain the Administration and impeach the Vice President before he prods the United States into another war.”
On April 24, 2007, Kucinich introduced H. Res. 333, the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President. The first two charges focus on the Vice President’s successful effort to mislead the Congress and American public into a war against Iraq. The last charge focuses upon the Vice President’s determination to again mislead the Congress and American public into a war, this one against Iran. “H. Res. 333 has been before the House of Representatives for half a year and has 21 cosponsors. At the same time, the Vice President has escalated his belligerence towards Iran. Thus, I believe it is now urgent to move the impeachment resolution,” Kucinich concluded.
The 21 cosponsors of H. Res. 333 are: Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Brady (D-PA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Sam Farr (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Henry Johnson (D-GA), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James Moran (D-VA), Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Albert Wynn (D-MD).
“The Vice President is cherry picking intelligence and selectively using facts in a manner that does not portray the complete picture,” Kucinich said. “The best option to prevent an unnecessary war with Iran is to impeach the Vice President, the lead cheerleader of the war. The Constitution gave Congress the power to impeach. Congress must use its power to restrain the Administration and impeach the Vice President before he prods the United States into another war.”
On April 24, 2007, Kucinich introduced H. Res. 333, the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President. The first two charges focus on the Vice President’s successful effort to mislead the Congress and American public into a war against Iraq. The last charge focuses upon the Vice President’s determination to again mislead the Congress and American public into a war, this one against Iran. “H. Res. 333 has been before the House of Representatives for half a year and has 21 cosponsors. At the same time, the Vice President has escalated his belligerence towards Iran. Thus, I believe it is now urgent to move the impeachment resolution,” Kucinich concluded.
The 21 cosponsors of H. Res. 333 are: Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Brady (D-PA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Sam Farr (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Henry Johnson (D-GA), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), James Moran (D-VA), Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Albert Wynn (D-MD).
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Palestine Center Annual Conference
The Palestine Center invites you to the 2007 Annual Conference"The 'Politicide' of the Palestinian People"
Friday, November 2, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Keynote Speaker: Professor Bashir Abu-Manneh, Assistant Professor of English, Barnard College, New York
To view the conference agenda and list of panelists, please visit 2007 Annual Conference webpage.To register, go to Registration webpage. Attendance is by pre-registration only. Guests without registration confirmations will not be admitted. Directions and Parking Information
Friday, November 2, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Keynote Speaker: Professor Bashir Abu-Manneh, Assistant Professor of English, Barnard College, New York
To view the conference agenda and list of panelists, please visit 2007 Annual Conference webpage.To register, go to Registration webpage. Attendance is by pre-registration only. Guests without registration confirmations will not be admitted. Directions and Parking Information
ADC Opposes AG Nominee
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) announced its opposition to the nomination of Judge Michael B. Mukasey to be the next US Attorney General. The decision came as a result of Judge Mukasey's written response to questions posed to him by members of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary concerning a torture technique known as, "waterboarding." In a written response, Mukasey expressed his personal disdain for waterboarding but was uncertain as to whether it violated US laws on torture. The technique is used to simulate drowning and is used to coerce confessions or intimidate a suspect. All four currently serving Judge Advocate Generals for the armed forces are on the record in qualifying waterboarding as torture and constituting a war crime.
ADC National Executive Director Kareem Shora said, "The Attorney General is the nation's chief law enforcement officer and is tasked with the application of the fair and proper rule of law in the United States. The nation's attorney general must be able to maintain the delicate balance between national security and individual liberties and rights," Shora said, "Judge Mukasey's hesitancy on this matter may foreshadow a possible inability or unwillingness to enforce the rule of law, including that of our Constitution and international legal standards, on controversial policies that have included torture used in the name of national security."
Muskasey was nominated by President Bush to replace former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced that the committee will meet on November 5 to vote on Mukasey's nomination.
Of additional concern to ADC are public statements made by Judge Mukasey that civil liberties could be set aside for the sake of national security issues, expressing his doubt as to whether non-citizens in US custody should enjoy the protection of the US Constitution and also advocating for the creation of separate national security courts to hear terrorism related cases. The combination of the above statements with his answers before the committee is of grave concern. Because of these concerns, ADC opposes the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be the next Attorney General.
ADC encourages members to contact both of their senators and ask them to oppose the nomination of Michael Mukasey for US Attorney General. Contact them directly using the following website: http://capwiz.com/adc/dbq/officials/
ADC National Executive Director Kareem Shora said, "The Attorney General is the nation's chief law enforcement officer and is tasked with the application of the fair and proper rule of law in the United States. The nation's attorney general must be able to maintain the delicate balance between national security and individual liberties and rights," Shora said, "Judge Mukasey's hesitancy on this matter may foreshadow a possible inability or unwillingness to enforce the rule of law, including that of our Constitution and international legal standards, on controversial policies that have included torture used in the name of national security."
Muskasey was nominated by President Bush to replace former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) announced that the committee will meet on November 5 to vote on Mukasey's nomination.
Of additional concern to ADC are public statements made by Judge Mukasey that civil liberties could be set aside for the sake of national security issues, expressing his doubt as to whether non-citizens in US custody should enjoy the protection of the US Constitution and also advocating for the creation of separate national security courts to hear terrorism related cases. The combination of the above statements with his answers before the committee is of grave concern. Because of these concerns, ADC opposes the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be the next Attorney General.
ADC encourages members to contact both of their senators and ask them to oppose the nomination of Michael Mukasey for US Attorney General. Contact them directly using the following website: http://capwiz.com/adc/dbq/officials/
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