ADCNY co-sponsored numerous protests and vigils during the Israeli attack on Lebanon and ADCNY director Katherine Metres Abbadi as well as several ADCNY board members gave interviews to the media regarding the conflict.

March across the Brooklyn Bridge (July 29, 2006) organized by the Ad hoc
Coalition for Justice in the Middle East. Endorsed by ADC-NY and
spearheaded by its Board Member Issa Mikel, the march protested the Israel's heavy bombardment of civilians and their infrastructure in violation of
international law and the U.S. Arms Export Control Act.

Alongside allies, ADC-NY demands peace at a City Hall rally that
followed the march.

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ADCNY COSPONSORED SILENT VIGILS FOR LEBANON IN UNION SQUARE

ADCNY cosponsored a series of silent candlelight vigils in Union Square to
demand that the U.S. government call for an immediate and unconditional
ceasefire in Lebanon, Israel and Palestine. These vigils took place every
Thursday from July 20 to August 10th in Union Square South (Manhattan) at
7:30pm.

The calls that were put out for the vigils included the following
information:

"We have been devastated by the destruction and violence that have become
many people's daily reality. As concerned citizens, we feel it is time that
our political representatives hear our voices loud and clear calling for an
immediate and unconditional end to the bloodshed and a withdrawal of
invading forces. As a follow-up to our previous vigils, attended by hundreds
of Americans of all backgrounds and faiths, we are repeating the initiative
this coming Thursday."

"Our weekly vigils have convened to protest our government's unconscionable failure to call for an immediate and unconditional end to the violence and a withdrawal of invading forces. We will keep petitioning our government for as long as it takes. Please join us again or for the first time to take a stand."

"On Thursday, please bring candles. Feel free to bring any flags you may
have. We request that no other signs, banners, or posters be displayed at
the vigil."

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT LEBANONVIGILS.COM
or www.adcnewyork.org/lebanon.htm

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ADCNY

endorses the

Saturday August 12

MARCH ON WASHINGTON

to protest Israeli aggression against Lebanon!!!

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is participating in the National Emergency March in Washington, DC, on Saturday, August 12, 2006. The March/Rally starts at 12:00 noon in Lafayette Park, located in front of the White House. The purpose of the March/Rally is to protest Israeli aggression toward the Lebanese and Palestinians, including the destruction of their infrastructure, and to demand an immediate ceasefire.

More than 100 organizations and groups will participate in this non-violent protest. Dr. Clovis Maksoud will speak at the rally on behalf of ADC, and there will be several other prominent speakers. Tens of thousands of people from across the U.S. are expected to attend. This March and Rally is initiated by ANSWER Coalition, National Council of Arab Americans, and the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation.

WHAT:
National Emergency March in Washington, DC

WHEN:
Saturday, August 12, 2006 starting at 12 noon

WHERE:
Meet in Lafayette Park in front of the White House for the rally.
Following the rally, there will be a march that will move directly in
front of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. A permit has been
obtained from the Metropolitan Police Department for the mass march.

Take Metro (blue and orange) to Farragut West or McPherson Square

WHY:
To protest Israeli aggression towards the Lebanese and Palestinian people, including the destruction of their infrastructure, and to demand an immediate ceasefire.

What you can do:
* Encourage your friends to attend
* Bring water and wear comfortable shoes
* Forward this message to your contacts
* Bring US, Lebanese and Palestinian flags
* Make posters, banners, and signs
* If you can't attend, Contact your members of Congress and the
Administration to tactfully express your point of view.

For more information, such as driving directions, public
transportation tips, and housing tips for those who are coming out of
town visit: www.answercoalition.org

2. What You Can Do For Lebanon Action Center

We urge all of our members to check this link as often as possible for new urgent alerts on actions you can take to help Lebanon. Click here for more information.

3. ADC Estabishes Fund For Humanitarian Relief in Lebanon

ADC is encouraging all of our members to contribute to relief efforts to assist the civilian population of Lebanon to cope with the humanitarian crisis created by Israeli aggression against them. A special fund has been set up through the ADC Research Institute to allow our members to reliably and safely contribute to humanitarian efforts. The ADCRI is a 501(c)(3) educational and charitable foundation, and contributions to it are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Checks should be made payable to ADCRI: Lebanon Appeal
and mailed to: ADC | 1732 Wisconsin Ave, NW | Washington, DC 20007

For more information about the fund, click here.

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Tuesday, August 8th: ADCNY Chapter President Aslı Bâli and ADCNY Chapter Board Member Issa Mikel were interviewed about the Israeli war on Lebanon and campaigns within the U.S. for boycott, divestment and sanctions on Israel. To hear their appearance on WBAI's "Global Movements, Urban Struggles," click here: http://archive.wbai.org/files/mp3/060808_100001gmus.MP3

Friday, August 4th: ADCNY Office Director Katherine Metres Abbadi submitted this op-ed.

Wednesday, August 2nd: The following story was printed in the Journal News of Westchester and quotes ADC-NY executive director Katherine Metres Abbadi as follows:

"We want to express our outrage that U.S. weapons have been used to kill civilians, and we want to call for an immediate cease-fire," said
Katherine Metres Abbadi, executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of New York, who joined the march across the Brooklyn Bridge.

The article is available here.

Friday, July 21st: The following story quotes Christine Moore Vassallo, who is a board member of ADC-NY as well as the Arab American Family Support Center.

"City Arabs chided Mike as one-sided"

BY LESLIE CASIMIR
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Some local Arab-American leaders gave Mayor Bloomberg an earful
yesterday at a Gracie Mansion breakfast held to honor their culture's contribution to the city. Although the affair was closed to the press, several of the 70 invited guests later told the Daily News that they expressed concern over the mayor's recent statements unequivocally supporting Israel in the Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon.

Bloomberg's recent expression of support for Israel included no
mention of the Lebanese civilians killed in the ongoing bombing, nor of the thousands of stranded Americans --many of Lebanese descent-- clamoring to get out.

"He really needs to show that he is the mayor of all New Yorkers,
not just of one segment of the population," said Christine Vassallo,
a board member of the Arab American Family Support Center. "His one-sided statement was just shocking to us because the Lebanese have been a part of this city and this country for centuries."

Like many of the guests attending the breakfast for Arab-American
Heritage Week, Vassallo raised the issue with the mayor when she was greeted by him at her table. Gracie Mansion guests were served a
traditional Arab breakfast of thyme-infused pita bread, yogurt, beans mixed with sesame and sweet pastries, she said.

Bloomberg, who is Jewish, had released a statement on Monday that
said the fates of Israel and the city are intertwined and that a "strong Israel means a strong America and a strong New York."

A Bloomberg spokesman yesterday released some of the mayor's comments to the gathering, which touched on unity.

"Somehow or other, we've got to find a way to bring peace to a part
of the world where sadly for a couple of thousand years, people have
been killing each other over religion, which is supposed to be pulling us together and teaching us tolerance," Bloomberg told the guests.

Ghassan Elcheikhali, principal of the Razi School, a private Muslim
academy in Woodside, Queens, said he hopes the mayor will come to
understand the concerns of his Arab constituents.

Originally published on July 21, 2006

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