News, July , 2007
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Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names. |
AAI Joins with Homeland Security, Community Leaders to Share Information, Respond to Concerns Following UK Attacks
WASHINGTON – The Arab American Institute and members of the Arab American community continue to meet and work with federal homeland security agencies to assist with their efforts to keep our nation safe and ensure the protection of civil liberties of all Americans.
On Sunday, July 1, AAI took part in a nationwide conference call with Department of Homeland Security, as well as the Departments of Justice, State, Treasury, and Health and Human Services to share information and respond to concerns following the incidents in London and Glasgow in the previous 48 hours. AAI joined leaders of other organizations from Arab American, Muslim, Sikh and South Asian communities.
During the conference call convened by Daniel Sutherland, the Department of Homeland Security’s Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, government officials pledged to continue their work to protect all communities and uphold civil rights and civil liberties. Federal officials pledged to continue to be active in prosecuting hate crimes, acts of employment discrimination, and upholding the free exercise of religion by all communities.
Community and government leaders discussed in depth actions the communities and the Federal government can take together. These communities have been actively tackling these issues since 9/11, and re-stated that they are serious about developing best practices that will combat extremism and radicalization. Specific steps that were discussed included:
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At least two significant conferences with youth from these communities will be held in Washington, D.C. this summer. These conferences will enable senior government officials and community leaders to understand the thoughts and hopes of young people from these communities. In turn, they will also help young people from these communities better engage with their government;
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Major national conferences hosted by Muslim American organizations will include a focus on developing tools to connect communities to federal, state and local government, with the goal of ensuring that America’s religious, ethnic and racial minority communities are engaged with and not isolated from their governments;
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Both government and community leaders reiterated their commitment to a robust discussion of policy at community roundtables across the country; and,
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Community leaders re-stated strongly their willingness to work with communities in the United Kingdom and across Europe to identify best practices for decreasing isolation and extremism; government leaders pledged to identify ways to support these efforts.
Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute (AAI) is a nonprofit organization committed to the civic and political empowerment of Americans of Arab descent. AAI provides policy, research and public affairs services to support a broad range of community activities.
For more information on AAI, please visit www.aaiusa.org.
1600 K Street, NW, Suite 601 Washington, DC 20006
phone (202) 429-9210 fax (202) 429-9214
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