Friend --

When we first founded the Arab American Institute thirty-four years ago, the pace of the DC policy world moved in months and weeks. Today is vastly different. There isn’t an hour that goes by that we aren’t made painfully aware of another policy change that has the potential to negatively affect our community—and our country. 

In this climate, I’m proud of our small team of talented and committed staffers that have moved mountains to make sure that not only are Arab American concerns heard, but that our community is leading on several key issues including hate crime, voting, census, immigration, civil rights and civil liberties, and advocacy on Palestinian human rights. We are all proud of this work, but to maintain it and grow capacity for 2020, we need your help. 

We founded AAI to foster a network of Arab Americans at every level of government. Today, we see this goal realized with Arab Americans proudly serving on school boards, city councils, in state houses, in Congress, and at every level of the federal government. 

Despite these successes, we still face major obstacles to our full participation in public life. Below are some issues we’ve identified and the actions we’ve taken to tackle them:

This year, we launched our #YallaCountMeIn campaign to ensure all Arab Americans are counted on the 2020 Census. We have local partners across the country working to distribute resources in Arabic and English about the census, ranging from what to expect when filling out the census to data privacy.  Without an accurate count, we can’t effectively advocate for community needs like Arabic voter registration forms, translation services, and public services tailored to our community’s unique needs.

Everyone deserves to live free from hate, and we are working hard to make that a reality through improving hate crime reporting and data collection. Since the bipartisan Khalid Jabara and Heather Heyer NO HATE Act was introduced in Congress last summer, the civil rights community has come together in support of better data and more accurate statistics. As we advance our persistent advocacy work combating hate crime and formulating an adequate policy response to it, we continue to draw inspiration from the resilience of the families of Khalid, Heather, and all people who have been affected by hate. 

We have confronted head-on the xenophobia upholding the Trump Administration’s attacks on civil and human rights, and in no other context have we seen hatred borne into policy more than that of immigration. We have worked tirelessly with our partners in challenging the Muslim, Refugee, and Asylum Bans and amplified the voices of those leading the charge against policies like family separation, the criminalization of immigrant communities, and denaturalization. This fight continues. 

Laws targeting pro-Palestinian advocacy continue to be introduced at all levels of government. Especially concerning are proposed laws requiring public employees and contractors in various states and cities to sign a pledge that they have not and never will be a part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement. These statutes infringe on Americans’ First Amendment rights and AAI continues to call attention to these un-American laws and to encourage people and policy makers alike to advocate for our Constitutional rights.

We continue to encourage all Arab Americans to get involved in politics through our Yalla Vote program. Working with local groups across the country—including college clubs, community centers, and religious institutions—we register as many people to vote as possible and remind them that our democracy requires their active participation.  Our field team also runs the Yalla Vote hotline, which provides voting information in Arabic and English to anyone who calls with a question on Election Day. 

We’re only able to keep these key programs going with your support.

These critical projects not only help our community, but will create a more inclusive country by encouraging everyone to participate in public life, no matter what they believe or where their ancestors are from.

Although our team is small, we are devoted to this mission because it’s in our national interest—but we can’t do it without your help.

I truly believe we can actualize the America that we want to be, and that is what we are doing every day—but we can’t do it without your help. Here’s what your support can do:

• Advance democracy by sending a Yalla Vote voter registration kit;
• Support nationwide outreach through #YallaCountMeIn to ensure all Arab Americans are counted on the 2020 census;
• Provide hate crime prevention and education materials to local communities;
• Send high school students to AAIF’s Leadership Days to advocate for civil rights;
• Protect free speech on Palestine by supporting our rapid response systems and providing resources to advocates on the ground;
• Provide young Arab Americans with professional development opportunities through our internships, mentorship, and Generations programming.

Your $250, $1,000, or $5,000 donation can help change the narrative and make all the difference to our community. A contribution at any level will help—when it comes to advocating for our community, every dollar matters.

Yours,

Jim Zogby
http://www.aaiusa.org/