Three Informative Articles
- While Zionists in the US took millions in donations to the "Save Darfur"
coalition and used that money to demonize Arabs and Muslims and shift
attention away from Israeli ethnic cleansing and slow genocide....ISRAEL
TURNS AWAY DARFUR REFUGES
"Israel will in future turn away all illegal entrants from Sudan's war-torn
region of Darfur, a top official says." BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/6954663.stm
- A 27 year old veteran of the CIA explains why Bush and Cheney are likely
to attack Iran. "Bush's New War Drums for Iran" By Ray McGovern
http://consortiumblog.com/
- Racist (and misnamed) "Anti-Defamation League" (Abe Foxman) fires New
England ADL leader for speaking truth about Armenian Genocide
See Here
(for more ADL scandals, see http://www.adlwatch.org/ and
http://www.counterpunch.org/adlspying2.html )
FOUR ACTIONS ("Silence is complicity"!)
+ Take Action 1: Sign Petition to support Barnard College giving tenure to
Dr. Nadia Abu Al-Haj (like Norman Finkelstein, she was targeted by the
Israel lobby forces). The new McCarthyism must be stopped or all will be in
danger (and write the media)
http://www.petitiononline.com/Barnard2
+ Take Action 2: Oppose $30 Billion in Military Aid Package to Israel by
writing to Congress (and write the media)
http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/uscampaign/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=12265
+ Take Action 3: Sign petitions to lift the brutal siege on Gaza (and write
the media)
http://www.petitiononline.com/SaveGaza/
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/sign.asp?PetitionID=5
+ Take Action 4: The following is a press release from American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee on the continuing demonization of Arabs and
Muslims by the NY Sun and NY Post. What I suggest is that people in NY and
NJ especially visit places where these trashy newspapers are sold and ask
that they stop selling them or be boycotted. We can start with Arab and
Muslim owned stores (there are hundreds of these in metro NY and NJ areas).
It makes no sense for a Muslim or an Arab (or any human) store owner to be
selling newspapers that are owned and run by racists and that ROUTINELY
demonize and dehumanize Arabs and Muslims.
ADC Press Release:Anti-Arab Racism Alive and Thriving in New York Tabloids
Washington, DC | August 20, 2007 | www.adc.org | The American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is deeply troubled by the relentless
criticism by conservative columnists, the New York Post and New York Sun
regarding the Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA).
ADC President Hon. Mary Rose Oakar said, "ADC is concerned that this seems
to be yet another instance in which the anything Arab is stigmatized and
held to a different standard. ADC is deeply troubled by the persistent
labeling of Arab Americans and Muslim Americans as "terrorists" or
"terrorist sympathizers," a pattern which is reflected in some commentary
surrounding the school. This is a form of incitement that is not only
irresponsible, but dangerous and leads stereotyping of the community. We
should not let these irrational voices derail the opening of the school."
When plans for KGIA were introduced New York School Chancellor Joel I. Klein
rightly believed that idea for a school that taught Arabic language and
culture was appropriate and suitable for the city's system of dual-language
programs. The city currently has more than 60 similar language and culture
schools including French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Greek, Korean, among
others. There is also strong support for the school from Mayor Bloomberg,
the NY Education Department, and former Mayor Edward Koch.
However, criticism from conservative columnists, several officials, The NY
Post, and The NY Sun has been increasingly strident and bigoted since the
school was announced in February. The KGIA is opening in partnership with
New Visions for Public Schools, which is a nonprofit group that has helped
to create many of New York City's new smaller schools. The plan for the
school is to offer standard college preparatory course, with the addition of
daily Arabic language instruction and a focus on international relations.
KGIA is intended to open in the fall and initially it will offer only sixth
grade class but will expand yearly until it includes grades 6-12. It will be
housed in an existing middle school, a practice common in the New York
school system.
Efforts to delegitimize KGIA began with the school's announcement. Simply
because the school offered Arabic classes notorious Arab bashers began their
campaign with slogans of "Jihad School" and a campaign called "Stop the
Madrassa" (madrassa is the Arabic word for school). The campaign continued
and then focused on long time public school teacher Debbie Al Monstaser who
was the principal of the school and a driving force behind its creation.
That effort culminated with AlMonstaser's resignation earlier this week and
Danielle Salzburg has been named Interim Acting Principal. Salzburg is a
ten-year veteran of New York City's Department of Education, has help found
two schools, and has been involved with KGIA for the last six months.
###
COMMUNITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE KHALIL GIBRAN INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY: MEETING
TONIGHT, MONDAY, AUGUST 20 at 6pm.
NYC Department of Education
Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chambers Street
As New Yorkers and others in support of quality public education for all of
our communities, we stand in solidarity with the Khalil Gibran International
Academy, which has sustained hateful and false attacks by anti-Arab media
and extremists. In the post-9/11 world, a school educating our children
about Arab history, culture, and language is not only crucial for the next
generation to become informed leaders for positive change in our
communities; it is also an extraordinary place of hope for peace,
understanding, and justice for our embattled world. We regret that Debbie
Almontaser was unfairly pressured to resign from her position as principal
due to the attacks, and we applaud her work to establish this school and
promote intercultural exchange in this diverse global city.
Those who seek to equate the study of Arabic language, culture, and history
with religious fanaticism and violence are irresponsibly aggravating a
present moment of hysteria against Arab and Muslim communities, and are
using this moment to promote hatred in a time of war. We urge our public
officials to reject these racist and inaccurate attacks, and continue to
work towards building a lasting educational institution that promises to
bring our communities together, rather than divide and pit them against each
other. We call on all communities who want to see peace on our streets and
in our world to stand with us in support of the Khalil Gibran International
Academy.
Sponsors:
Arab Resource and Organizing Center, San Francisco, CA
AWAAM: Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media
Brown Memorial Baptist Church
Center for Immigrant Families
Council on American Islamic Relations - NY
Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ)
Muslim Consultive Network
WFD Program Steering Committee at First Unitarian Congregational Society of
Brooklyn
Organizational Endorsers:
Adalah-NY: Coalition for Justice in the Middle East
The African American Islamic Institute (AAII)
Brecht Forum
Brooklyn For Peace (formerly Brooklyn Parents for Peace)
Ethical Action Commitee of the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Independent Commission on Public Education
Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives, Brooklyn
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Oakland Chapter
Peoples MEDIA Center
Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors
WESPAC Foundation
Individual Endorsers:
Katherine Acey, Concerned Brooklyn Resident
Rev. Elizabeth Alexander, Church of the Gethsemane
Reshma Baig & Yahiya Emerick, Islamic Foundation of North America (IFNA)
Aleise Barnett, NYC Public School Teacher
Rev. Dr. Robert L. Brashear, Pastor, West-Park Presbyterian Church; Pres,
Interfaith Assembly on Housing & Homelessness
Lisel Burns, Clergy Leader, Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture
Ashaki H. Taha-Cisse, Executive Director, African American Islamic Institute
(AAII)
Carolyn Rusti Eisenberg, Brooklyn for Peace
Rabbi Michael Feinberg, Executive Director, Greater New York Labor-Religion
Coalition
Alice Fisher, Abrahamic Network of NY & Member of Congregation B'nai
Jeshuran, NYC
Martha Gallahue, Concerned Parent in Brooklyn
Carol Horwitz, Concerned Brooklyn Resident
Valerie Kameya, Concerned Brooklyn Resident
Youme Landowne, Artist and Educator
Gail Lerner, NYC
Laura Liben, Teaching Artist, NY Public Schools
Dr. Lucinda Mosher, Interreligious Relations Consultant
Saul Nieves, Activist and Union Organizer
Robert Patterson, Theatre Professional and Community Organizer
Steve Quester, UFT Member
Malika Rushdan; Consultant & Artist: Modern Age Art
Rev. Charles H. Straut, Jr., DMin, Member, KGIA Advisory Committee
Eileen B. Weiss, Managing Director, Same Difference Interfaith Alliance
--------------------------
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
http://qumsiyeh.org
http://justicewheels.org
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