Friend,

We are one week away from the Emergency Summit on Gaza in Chicago, convened by Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, AAI, and others. Because I know how important Gaza is to you, I invite you to join us next week at the summit on Friday, January 12, and Saturday, January 13 in person or via Zoom.

RSVP HERE TO ATTEND EITHER IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM

We have been mourning the thousands of innocent people dead, heartbroken for the millions displaced and surviving in horrible conditions, and watching in real-time as our country's leaders stand complicit in an unparalleled humanitarian crisis. There is a genocide in Gaza and while our government may stay silent, we cannot.

For weeks we have called our elected officials, protested across the country, and posted on social media. Every day our reach is growing and calls for a ceasefire are increasing but now we must join our voices. AAI is proud to be a partnering organization in convening an Emergency Summit for Gaza, Thursday-Friday January 12 and 13 in Chicago. The event will take place at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Headquarters and we will be joined by hundreds of pro-Palestine activists.

The Palestinian struggle has always been part of Rev. Jackson’s work for justice. This video link offers a glimpse into some of that. When few were addressing it outside of those who closely watched Middle East issues, Rev. Jackson led a delegation of American religious leaders to the Holy Land to “seek reconciliation” and peace in 1979. In 1988, I was told, “If you even put the P-word in the [DNC] platform, all hell will break loose.”

Rev. Jackson and I stuck to our principles then – the issue of Palestinian human rights was brought to the delegates' attention - and we must stand by our principles now. The movement to support Palestine was elevated and continues to grow today. And we need you to be an active part of it if we are to save lives.

What: Emergency Summit for Gaza: Ceasefire, Saving Lives, Building Peace

When: Friday, January 12, 11:00 AM through Saturday, January 13, 1:00 PM

Where: Rainbow PUSH Coalition headquarters, 930 East 50th Street Chicago, IL 60615

Convened by: Rainbow Push Coalition, Arab American Institute, Churches for Middle East Peace, Faith for Black Lives, U.S. Palestinian Council, Fellowship of Reconciliation, If Not Now, Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council, Muslim Civic Coalition, National Council of Churches, Progressive Democrats for America, Red Letter Christians, and Sojourners.

RSVP on Eventbrite. If you are the head of an organization and want to endorse this ceasefire call, please email [email protected].

Lunch for the summit is being catered by Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen, a local Lebanese restaurant that has been raising money for Palestine. To order lunch, order a new ticket for the summit here and check out only with your lunch orders for Friday and/or Saturday (do not register again to attend). If you do not order lunch by Monday, January 8, we cannot guarantee there will be enough for you to buy on the spot. If you have already ordered lunch but did not give us your preferences, email [email protected].

We hope you join us.

Regards,

Jim

Arab American Institute Foundation
1600 K Street, NW, Suite 601
Washington, DC 20006
United States