Patrick Hope for Congress!

The Arab American Democratic Caucus of Virginia, a non-sectarian Democratic organization representing the communal interests, civil rights and human rights of the Arab American community of Virginia has endorsed Delegate Patrick Hope ( Patrick Hope for Congress ) for the Democratic nomination in the 8th Congressional District of Virginia.

Del. Hope has served in the Virginia General Assembly with distinction and with much care for the underprivileged and the poor. With many years of dedicated public service to Virginia and Virginians, Del. Hope has always supported the human and civil rights of all Virginians and has stood up against bigotry and narrow mindedness.

We pledge to our future congressman Patrick Hope, all of our resources to insure a victory in the Democratic primary on June 10th and in the general election on November 4th.

Update on the 8th

With 11 candidates vying for Jim Moran's seat in congress, the activity has been heating up.  The candidates have been making the rounds and meeting constituents.  Many have asked for our support so we created a questionnaite to ask them about their thoughts on Arab American issues.  We'll review their replies and support those who will be our supporters going forward.  Their replies are due in two weeks so check back after St. Patrick's Day for more info.

Virginia's 8th Congressional District

Members at last night’s Fairfax County Democratic Committee meeting heard from a group of candidates for the 8^th Congressional District.  Ambassador Bon Beyer, State Senator Adam Ebbin, Delegate Mark Sickles, Delegate Patrick Hope and television personality Mark Levin spoke.  Thanks to Messrs. Ebbin, Sickles, and Hope who were working a long day in the legislative session in Richmond and then drove to Fairfax County for our meeting only to return in the snow to Richmond.  That shows remarkable interest in the folks in Fairfax County.  Announced candidates Delegate Charniele Herring and Bruce Shuttleworth were not there.  Other names being tossed around to replace Rep. Jim Moran in the 8^th are State Senator Barbara Favola; Delegates Bob Brink, Alfonso Lopez, and Rob Krupika; Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille, Arlington County Board member Walter Tejada, Fairfax Supervisor Jeff McKay, and former Secretary of Technology, Aneesh Chopra; and Former Alexandria Mayor Kerry Donnelly.  

A few things are clear.  There is a candidate for everybody’s liking.  There could be 10 or more announced candidates before Valentine’s Day.  Some of them will drop our over the next 16 weeks as we approach the primary.  With voters having so many choices, a candidate polling in the teens likely can win this race.  

With the 8^th Congressional District being such a Democratic stronghold, the real race is the primary.  The winner should easily win the general election in November.  Stay tuned for more…

ADC Asks Oxfam to Drop Scarlett Johansson

.Oxfam International’s Global Ambassador Scarlett Johansson has recently become the Global Brand Ambassador for SodaStream, an occupation profiteer that maintains a factory on an illegal settlement in the West Bank.  SodaStream exploits Palestinian land, labor, and resources, and is complicit in the brutal occupation of the Palestinian land. Such corporate complicity in human rights violations is a crime under international law. 

ADC President, Samer Khalaf, stated in a letter sent to Raymond Offenheiser, Oxfam America President, "While you have stated that you oppose all trade from Israeli settlements, there has yet to be any tangible action on this matter. In October 2012, Oxfam Italy cut its ties with Paola Maugeri over her role as a SodaStream PR Ambassador. You also dropped Kristin Davis in 2009 when she became a spokesperson for a company that manufactured cosmetics in illegal Israeli settlements. Scarlett Johansson should not be an exception to the rule."

In the written statement published on Oxfam’s website, Oxfam said: “We have made our concerns know to Ms. Johannsson and we are now engaged in a dialogue on these important matters… Oxfam is opposed to all trade from Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law.” 

However, despite making a statement saying that they oppose all trade from Israeli settlements, Oxfam has chosen to keep Scarlett Johansson as their Ambassador, in spite of the fact that she is explicitly promoting trade from illegal Israeli settlements.  

Oxfam says that it respects the independence of their ambassadors.  Yet, how can one truly be an ambassador for justice and human rights, but also advocate for a company that exploits an indigenous population? In the American legal practice this would be considered a clear conflict of interest: a definitively unethical position to maintain.  One simply cannot simultaneously advocate for human right and human exploitation.  

Please take action to stop this hypocrisy before SodaStream's airs its advertisements to millions at the Super Bowl!

• Learn more about the campaign to End the Occupation.

• Contact Oxfam’s President and tell him to drop Scarlett Johansson as their Global Ambassador

• Join ThunderClap Campaign and Tweet to Oxfam

• Sign the petition to urge Scarlett to end her relationship with SodaStream

• Read ADC's letter to Oxfam here

ADC Issues Town Hall Meeting

You've heard of the turmoil at the ADC - not is your time to hear about how we move forward and to have your voices heard. 

There will be a town hall meeting to discuss the aftermath of the ADC issues.

11:30 am, Saturday Dec 14

Henry Patrick Room 

Vienna Library

101 Maple Ave East

Vienna,  VA 22180

Syrian Refugee Blanket Drive

Purcellville (Loudoun County) Mayor, Bob Lazaro, visited Turkey as part of a cultural exchange.  When he visited a Syrian refugee camp, he was moved to find a way to help.  Mayor Lazaro wrote about his experience and initiated a blanket drive for the Syrian refugees being sheltered in Turkey. The blog entry can is at: http://boblazaro.blogspot.com/2013/11/what-i-saw-in-syrian-refugee-camp-how.html.

Blankets should be new or gently used, clean and folded.  The goal of the drive is to fill a shipping container that will be delivered to Turkey, where a relief agency will distribute the blankets to refugee families.

Donations will be gratefully accepted until NOON on Friday, December 6^th.

If you would like to donate financially, you can do so here:

http://hizmetrelief.org/syrian-refugees/

Blanket drop-off points are:

Loudoun County

County Government Center - 8:30AM to 5PM weekdays
1 Harrison St SE
Leesburg VA 20175

Sterling Offices of the Commission of the Revenue - 8:30AM to 5PM weekdays
21641 Ridgetop Cir
Suite 100
Sterling VA 20166

ADAMS Center - 8:30AM to 5PM - 7 days a week
46903 Sugarland Road
Sterling VA 20164

Fairfax County

8:30AM to 5PM Weekdays for all offices listed below:

Office of Chairman Sharon Bulova
Fairfax County Government  Center
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 530
Fairfax, VA 22035

Office of Mason District Supervisor Penelope A. Gross
Mason District Governmental Center
6507 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003

Office of Braddock District Supervisor John C. Cook
Kings Park Library
9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015

Office of Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust
McLean Governmental Center
6649-A Old Dominion Drive, Mclean, VA 22101

Office of Lee District Supervisor Jeffrey C. McKay
Lee District Governmental Center
6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310

Office of Mt. Vernon Supervisor Gerald W. Hyland
Mt. Vernon Governmental Center
2511 Parkers Lane, Mt, Vernon, VA 22306

Office of Springfield Supervisors Pat Herrity
Springfield Governmental Center
6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152

Office of Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey
Sully District Governmental Center
4900 Stonecroft Boulevard
Chantilly, VA 20151

Annual Souk & Olive Harvest Celebration

Saturday, December 7
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  

The Jerusalem Fund
2425 Virginia Ave, NW
Washington, DC  20037

202.338.1958

This family-friendly event is free and open to the public! Celebrate the annual olive harvest in Palestine by purchasing bottles of fair-trade, organic olive oil imported from Palestine. Support the Herbawi factory in Hebron, the last remaining keffiyeh factory in Palestine, by purchasing their keffiyehs being sold at the souk. Enjoy the atmosphere of a Middle Eastern bazaar in Washington, DC!  Buy great gifts from Palestine, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey and many other countries. Jewelry, pottery, glass, textiles, art, and more, plus a special 2014 calendar. Henna painting, Middle Eastern food, and live music add to the ambiance.