Protecting Civil Rights[[link removed]]
Iranian-American Allyship and Black Lives Matter [[link removed]]The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement sweeping the country is an important moment in civil rights history, and never before has it been so important to listen and act intentionally. Though NIAC's expertise lies in the domestic and foreign policies that impacts our community, now is the time to recognize the relationship between this administration’s militarized approach to both foreign affairs and domestic issues.
Join us on Monday for a special virtual event [[link removed]] to learn about the movement for Black lives and explore how we can help make a difference. And check out the updates and resources below for more!
Get Involved!
📚 Read : Police Reform Inching Forward In Congress in Wake of Protests [[link removed]]
🖥️ Discuss : RSVP for our upcoming event entitled "Ensuring Black Lives Matter" [[link removed]]
🚨 Act : Stand Up for Justice - Call on Congress to Demilitarize the Police [[link removed]]
✏️ Sign : Support a U.S. foreign policy that prioritizes diplomacy over militarism [[link removed]]
Did Bank of America Close Your Account? Share Your Story. [[link removed]]
[[link removed]]
For years, NIAC has tracked bank account closures of individuals of Iranian heritage, pressing both the Treasury and banks to make changes to halt this behavior. Unfortunately, these closures continue, and there is no bigger perpetrator than Bank of America. We're exploring legal options to stop these account closures and are seeking stories from members of the Iranian-American community.
If you've been impacted by discriminatory practices from Bank of America, share your experience using this form [[link removed]] . Your story will not be shared, privately or publicly, without your permission.

Building Political Power
Vote for Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani for Emily's List 2020 Rising Star Award! [[link removed]][[link removed]] We're so excited to share that Florida Representative and NIAC Action endorsee Anna Eskamani has been nominated for Emily's List Rising Star Award for her extraordinary work while serving in office.
She is the first Iranian American to be elected to public office in Florida and her work advocating for marginalized voices has earned her this well deserved nomination -- but to win she needs you to vote! Check out the award page to cast your vote for Anna today! [[link removed]]
#ICYMI: Iranian-American Women Building Political Power [[link removed]][[link removed]]
Last week, NIAC Action hosted a virtual conversation with leading Iranian-American women building political power. Guests included Yassamin Ansari , candidate for Phoenix City Council, Shireen Ghorbani , Salt Lake County Council Member, and Nilofar Ganjaie , NIAC Action Board Member. Watch the discussion to learn more about their challenges in running for office, grassroots campaigning during COVID-19, why we need to recruit more Iranian-American women candidates, and more!
📺 Watch the panel discussion here > [[link removed]]
🗳️ Support Yasamin Ansari for Phoenix City Council > [[link removed]]
Have you signed up to become a NIAC Action member? [[link removed]]
As election season ramps up, we want to make sure you're signed up to become a NIAC Action member! Membership is free and provides you inside information about Congressional candidates and much more. We'll be sending updates to our members about the very exciting New York primary on June 19th, so sign up today [[link removed]] !

Community & Culture
#IAPride: Showing Love & Solidarity with our LGBTQ+ Community [[link removed]]www.iapride.com [www.iapride.com]
As people across the globe celebrate Pride month in June, we want to highlight Iranian-American LGBTQ+ voices that have been too often silenced both within and outside of our community. That is why NIAC is proud to launch IAPride.com, a platform to share stories of Pride and allyship [[link removed]] .
We invite all of you--the LGBTQ+ community and allies--to share YOUR stories to be featured on IAPride.com [[link removed]] . Just post your words, art, or video on Twitter or Instagram and use the hashtag #IAPride. And make sure to check out IAPride.com to see the growing gallery of powerful stories!
🌈 Visit IAPride.com > [[link removed]]
Shahnameh Comes to Life in the Dazzling Shadow Play: “Feathers of Fire” [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] In Feathers of Fire, Hamid Rahmanian’s live-performance play combines traditional puppets, masks, and costumes, with the modernity of digital animation, to create an unforgettable visual spectacle in its most primal form, shadows.
His shadow play depicts the legendary story of forbidden lovers Zaul and Rudābeh from Ferdowsi’s saga. Their love gives birth to the mightiest hero of ancient Iran, Rostam. This masterful retelling of an ancient story is sure to captivate any audience, young and old. Now available to stream online [[link removed]] , don’t miss the chance to experience what Francis Ford Coppola calls, “Fantastic, spectacular… cinematic wizardry.”
Spotlighting Human Rights in Iran
Pride is a Protest: The Struggle for Gay Rights in Iran [[link removed]]
[[link removed]] As we celebrate and show our pride, we must also remember the struggle for gay rights in Iran, which still criminalizes homosexuality. While some strides have been made to recognize transgender men and women, Iran still has a very long way to go in ensuring rights for its LGBTQ+ community and all its minority communities. We condemn human rights violations against Iran’s LGBTQ+ community by Iranian officials, but we cannot stop there. It is also imperative to an honest discussion of gay rights in Iran, to recognize the cultural shifts that are necessary. Whether in Iran or in the diaspora, we must take an honest reflection of our own prejudices and biases. Read more > [[link removed]]
Afghans in Iran Face Tragedy [[link removed]]
On June 3rd, three Afghan men were burned alive in a car accident caused by the Iranian police, in Yazd province of Iran. According to Abdul-Ghafour Lival, Afghan ambassador in Iran, Iranian forces shot out the car’s tires after suspecting the vehicle was carrying illegal immigrants and drugs when it refused to stop at a checkpoint. Carrying 13 Afghan and one Pakistani individual, the car managed to drive 5 miles with its flat tire. Abbas-Ali Behdani Fard, the commander of Iranian law enforcement forces in Yazd, stated that the police received reports of five cars trafficking drugs and illegal immigrants on that road. Read more > [[link removed]]
📖 Checkout our Human Rights Tracker > [[link removed]]
📥 Subscribe to receive our Human Rights Tracker in your inbox > [[link removed]]
From Our Staff Parliament speaker opens new conservative era in Iranian politics [[link removed]]
Shervin Ghaffari for Al Monitor [link removed] [[link removed]] "Amid the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, an economic recession and US sanctions, the power of Iran’s conservative establishment has dramatically increased, setting the stage for a new era of hard-line politics. In a sharp turn to the right, Iran’s legislative body is now dominated by multiple conservatives factions, virtually all of whom campaigned against Rouhani’s administration and his platform of external engagement and internal moderation." Read more > [[link removed]]
Why the World Should Fear Trump’s UN Moves Against Iran [[link removed]]
Sina Toossi for The National interest
[link removed] [[link removed]] President Donald Trump is unwavering in his commitment to a “might is right” approach to international relations. His administration has explicitly had it out for multilateral arrangements, from UNESCO, the WHO, the International Criminal Court, the Paris Climate Accords, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and others. Now, the White House’s relentless drive to increase pressure on Iran threatens to shatter the vital role the UN Security Council (UNSC) plays in the international system. Read more > [[link removed]]
Iran Unfiltered : Brian Hook Accused of “Sabotaging” Prisoner Swap [[link removed]]
www.niacouncil.org/news/brian-hook-accused-of-sabotaging-prisoner-swap/ [www.niacouncil.org/news/brian-hook-accused-of-sabotaging-prisoner-swap/] The latest issue of Iran Unfiltered takes a look at accusations that Brian Hook is sabotaging negotiations with Iran, the outrage in Afghanistan after migrants were killed in Iran, and developments around one former Iranian Judiciary Official's corruption trial.
📰 Read the latest Iran Unfiltered > [[link removed]]
📥 Subscribe to receive Iran Unfiltered in your inbox > [[link removed]]
Upcoming Events
Looking for something to do? We've got you covered! Check out our upcoming virtual events below and see the full calendar of NIAC's events here [[link removed]] . RSVPs are required. We look forward to seeing you there!
Virtual Book Talk with Juan Cole: “The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam” [[link removed]]
Saturday, June 20th at 4pm ET
NIAC Chicago will host a virtual book talk with Juan Cole, Professor of History at the University of Michigan. He will read from his new translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam and draw connections with current circumstances. RSVP here > [[link removed]]
Ensuring Black Lives Matter: Learning about the Movement [[link removed]]
Monday, June 22 at 7pm ET
How has systemic racism shaped the Black American lives? What are movement leaders demanding at this time? How does the U.S's militaristic approach to global “safety” connect our experiences? How can we take steps to ensure that Black lives DO matter in the U.S? Join for a panel discussion to address these questions and more. RSVP here > [[link removed]]
A Maximum Pressure Exit Strategy: Can the U.S. Save the Iran Nuclear Deal? [[link removed]]
Wednesday, June 24 at 12pm ET
Would a Biden administration return to the deal, and if so what hurdles could it encounter? Could Trump pivot away from maximum pressure? And, if the nuclear accord is stabilized, how could the U.S. use diplomacy to resolve tensions across the region? Join us for an expert panel and report release addressing these important questions. RSVP here > [[link removed]]
#ICYMI: Is Iran Weathering the COVID-19 Storm? [[link removed]]
Recently, NIAC hosted a panel discussing the economic, political, and human rights situation in Iran amid the COVID-19 outbreak and ongoing U.S. sanctions. The discussion featured insights from NIAC's Sina Toossi , Virginia Tech Professor Djavad Salehi-Isfahani , Human Rights Watch's Tara Sepehri Far , and journalist Negar Mortazavi . The panelists explored a number of pressing issues, including the impact of coronavirus on Iran's economy, how the Iranian people are faring under the multiple crises faced by the country, and what all this means for U.S.-Iran relations.
📺 Watch the panel discussion here > [[link removed]]
Support niac. Donate Today. [[link removed]]
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PO Box 65439 | Washington, DC 20035
This email was sent to [email protected].
Please note, if you forward or distribute, links will open with your information filled in.
We'd hate to see less of you, but if you want fewer emails or need to unsubscribe, you can do that here [[link removed]] .