Washington, DC | www.adc.org | July 13, 2017 – ADC, the nation’s largest grassroots Arab-American organization, unequivocally stands with Arab-American activist Linda Sarsour in the face of bigoted attacks against one of our community’s most prominent leaders.
As co-chair of the Women’s March on Washington, Sarsour become the object of hate for Islamophobes. Immediately after her widely-praised speech last January, where she called herself “unapologetically Palestinian-American,” Sarsour’s visible persona was the source of resentment for those who seek to marginalize our community and preclude us from exercising our rights and responsibilities in American public life.
Palestinian Americans and Americans involved in Palestine-related activism must live with the ubiquitous threat of a character smear if they speak out against the Israeli government or the oppression of the Palestinians.
Attacks against Sarsour became more unhinged after the City University of New York invited her to deliver a commencement address to the graduating class. Demonstrating that Sarsour’s very identity was the source of the bigoted assault, the New York Times reported, “A Muslim-American Activist’s Speech Raises Ire Even Before It’s Delivered.” Rallied up by New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind – a former supporter of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) – numerous far-right agitators hurled death threats at Sarsour including, “A good Arab is a dead Arab.”
For decades, anti-Arab forces have sought to push our community aside. In the past, these forces have even used violence to silence community leaders, such as ADC’s West Coast Director Alex Odeh who was assassinated by the JDL in 1985. In 2001, JDL partisans were apprehended trying to blow up the offices of Arab-American Congressman Darrell Issa. And in March, JDL thugs violently attacked an elderly Palestinian man at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Washington D.C.
Now, once again, Sarsour is coming under attack after delivering a public address to the Islamic Society of North America where she related the Hadith that “A word of truth in front of a tyrant ruler or leader, that is the best form of jihad” and encouraged her audience to undertake the “jihad” of standing up for our rights against the Trump administration. To any fair minded individual, Sarsour’s use of the term “jihad” was obvious and innocuous. Naturally, far-right websites and media organizations ignored the very context and scripted false headlines accusing Sarsour of waging Jihad against President Trump. The willfully dishonest defamation of Sarsour has become a popular cause on the far-right. However, regardless of their efforts, they will not be able to silence an “unapologetic Palestinian-American.”
ADC condemns the bigoted attacks against Sarsour. These attacks go beyond any honest exception to Sarsour’s advocacy and seek to deny the inalienable rights enjoined by all Americans to free speech simply because of her ethnic and religious background and identity.
We will not stand silent in the face of such un-American attacks from the most disreputable of sources. This is why ADC exists: To defend our rights as Arab-Americans, to defend our heritage, and to uphold our standing in the American public square. Today, and every day, we stand with Linda Sarsour and all Arab-Americans fighting for a more tolerant, inclusive and just America.
To the people propagating these false accusations about Sarsour: Your hatred, your bigotry, and your envy does not threaten our excellence.
#IMarchWithLinda