December, 08 2015, 07:15am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Linda Sarsour: lindasarsour@gmail.com (917) 306-3323Â
Jamila Hammami- jamila@qdep.org (347) 496-8490
Human Rights Trump Oppression: International Solidarity Action for Syrian and Iraqi Refugees
Members from the Arab community, Muslim community and human rights activists of New York City will come together on December 10, 2015 in solidarity for Syrian and Iraqi refugees to say no to the harmful racism, Islamophobia, Arabphobia, and xenophobia towards the refugee community.
NEW YORK
Members from the Arab community, Muslim community and human rights activists of New York City will come together on December 10, 2015 in solidarity for Syrian and Iraqi refugees to say no to the harmful racism, Islamophobia, Arabphobia, and xenophobia towards the refugee community.
On November 19, 2015 - the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015 or the American SAFE Act of 2015 (H.R. 4038). This bill will make it harder for refugees to enter the U.S. by requiring background checks by not just the Department of Homeland Security but also the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Director of National Intelligence. Since the aftermath of 9/11 - increased "security" has only left the Muslim/Arab community in fear of government officials.
As a community, we recognize that the United States is complicit in the human rights abuses across the Middle East and North Africa. We also recognize that the Assad dictatorship is responsible for the vast majority of civilian deaths in Syria, and is engaged in documented torture and imprisonment of tens of thousands of its citizens. We stand in solidarity with the popular movements which rise up against any repressive government. We also recognize that the United States bears primary responsibility for the deteriorating situation in Iraq dating back to the 1990s Gulf Wars and exacerbated by the global 'War on Terror'. All of this has contributed to the recent influx of Syrian and Iraqi refugees that have entered and are trying to enter into the United States.
At present, the US government has agreed to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees. This is not enough. We demand that the US government accept more refugees from Syria and Iraq without intense background checks and to provide adequate resources and social services to these newly resettled refugees. Further, we demand that the US and all other governments cease their interventions in the Middle East and North Africa and their support of human rights abuses by repressive regimes.
We will be standing together as a collective on Thursday December 10th, 5p.m., International Human Rights Day, at Columbus circle right by the International Trump Tower to raise awareness of these issues and call for action from the U.S. Government.
WHAT: International Solidarity Action for Syrian and Iraqi Refugees
WHO: Syrian & Iraqi Refugees, Community Members and Advocates
WHERE: Columbus Circle, New York, NY
WHEN: Thursday, December 10 @ 5pm
VISUALS: Testimonies, Posters, Banners
HASHTAGS: #HRTrumpOppression, #StandUp4Syrians, #StandUp4Iraqis,
#StandUp4Refugees, #StandUp4Muslims
Name List of Organizations Involved:
Arab American Association NY
Families for Freedom
Queer Detainee Empowerment Project (QDEP)
RAISE (Revolutionizing Asian American Immigrant Stories on the East Coast)
Jews For Racial and Economic Justice
MENA Solidarity Network - Refugee Advocacy Project
International Socialist Organization
War Resisters League
John Jay Students for Justice in Palestine
Mekong NYC
Iraq Veterans Against the War
NYU Students for Justice in Palestine
New York State Youth Leadership Council
Campaign for Peace and Democracy
NYC Students for Justice in Palestine
Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI)
Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM)
Enlace
NYU Academic Workers for a Democratic Union
Indian-American Muslim Public Affairs Committee
US Muslim Solidarity with the Syrian people
AKNY-Greece Solidarity Movement
Havaar: Iranian Initiative against War, Sanctions and State Repression
GSOC-UAW Local 2110: The Union for Graduate Employees at New York University
New York City Asian American Student Conference
Jewish Voice for Peace
AF3IRM-NYC: Association of Filipinas
Feminists Fighting Imperialism, Re-feudalization, and Marginalization
Other contacts for general information:
Mirna Haidar : mirna.aaany@gmail.com
Aber Kawas: Aber.aaany@gmail.com
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Two decades after they were tortured by U.S. military contractors at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad, three Iraqi victims are finally getting their day in court Monday as a federal court in Virginia takes up a case they brought during the George W. Bush administration.
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