Dear Friend,

While this is my 11th presidential convention, in many ways, it is the most challenging. Because both parties will be formally nominating the candidates while a horrifying genocide is unfolding in Gaza and Israel is threatening a full-scale war on Lebanon.

What’s especially upsetting is that these critical issues, and both parties' complicity in them, won’t be discussed at either the Republican or Democratic conventions - unless we do something about it. I really need your help to ensure that our voices are heard.

That’s why AAI was created - to bring our concerns to the centers of power and challenge them to respond.

If I’ve learned anything over four decades it’s that these gatherings provide opportunities to have issues heard, be covered in the media, and make a difference. There is one time, every four years, when party leaders, government officials, and 10,000 members of the media are together in one place, and this is it.

AAI has never walked away when our community, or the values and beliefs we hold dear, are under attack, and this year will be no different.

Inside the convention hall, the delegates won't hear about the genocide in Gaza, the violence escalating in Lebanon, or the role of dark money and congressional efforts in silencing debate. But outside of the conventions, AAI, along with our allies, is organizing programming with policy experts and activists to educate and challenge party delegates. Together we’ll let them know that Arab Americans will not be silenced, and Gaza and Lebanon will not, and cannot be, forgotten. They will hear us when we declare self-determination for the Palestinian people is a MUST.

Since 1988, the Arab American Institute has led events voicing our community’s concerns at every major party convention. This year cannot be an exception. Too much is at stake, and we cannot be silent.

Here is our plan so far.

- AAI will conduct a poll of U.S. voters to be released during the RNC Convention in Milwaukee. This poll will drive home the importance of Palestinian rights in the November election. While programming for Milwaukee remains in progress, plans for the DNC Convention in Chicago, August 19-22, are more developed.

- In July AAI will launch a national petition drive asking the Conventions to hear directly from Palestinian voices from Gaza and to provide a time during the Convention for alternative voices to be heard regarding the direction of U.S. policy on Palestinian rights.

- During the Democratic Convention, building on AAI’s Emergency Summit for Gaza held earlier this year, we will host three days of programming together with Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and Progressive Democrats.

Topics include:
Day One: Silencing Debate on Palestine:
- silencing our students;
- repressive legislation equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism;
- the role of “dark money” smearing progressive voices and policies.

Day Two: Palestinian and Arab Voices Must be Heard:
- a film depicting the devastation Israel has inflicted on Palestinians;
- a panel of Palestinian voices from Gaza and the West Bank;
- the critical importance of UNWRA and the damage Congress has done to its ability to provide needed support to starving Palestinians in Gaza;
- the role of the “Uncommitted Movement” in elevating our concerns with the genocide in Gaza.

Day Three: A critical examination of the 2024 Democratic Party Platform with a panel of experts from past platform debates.
- a panel of Democratic Party leaders and activists who will discuss how the party’s progressive wing is reshaping the future of the party.

To make all this happen, we will need your support. After reviewing all the pieces - the film, the poll, the program venues, printed materials and signs, and travel and housing for invited speakers – AAI needs to raise critical funds to ensure that your concerns about Palestinian rights and the safety of the Lebanese are heard at the conventions.

Please commit to joining us in challenging American leaders on Gaza, U.S. policy, and Palestinian rights. Your gift today can make all the difference.

Thank you,

-Jim



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