Majid Al-Bahadli, Obama delegate from Washington State, danced on the floor of the Democratic National Convention, cheered on by members of his state’s delegation, this past August. How he came to be there, the only Iraqi delegate on the floor, is an inspiration to us all.
Born and raised in Iraq, the budding political activist knew the risks of opposing Saddam’s regime: in 1980, his uncle and cousins, and many other family members, were executed for it. When Saddam invaded Kuwait in 1991, Majid heeded the United States’ call to rise up against him. But when the U.S. withdrew and power was restored to the dictator, Majid’s life was at risk. He slipped through the border checkpoints and surrendered to an American soldier. For nearly five years, he lived in a prisoner of war camp in the Saudi desert. Finally, a United Nations delegation entered the camp and conducted the interviews that would lead to Majid’s release as a political refugee in 1995, and later to his naturalization as an American citizen. There were some difficult years between his arrival in the U.S. and the day he became a citizen in 2000-although politics is his passion, he lay low for fear that his actions might jeopardize his impending naturalization. Today, he works fearlessly to get out the vote in his adopted Seattle, Washington. He is a warm and gracious person whose enthusiasm for American politics is inspirational and infectious. He won his position as delegate in a landslide vote, with 87% in support of his bid to travel to Colorado.
After a blogging hiatus for a 2 week Jury Duty stint, and some beginning of school/ LSAT prep madness, I have returned to update everyone on the happenings in the world of Yalla Vote New York. As you know, the congressional primaries are fast approaching, and the 13th District will choose its candidate tomorrow, September 9th.
As the Yalla Vote Field Organizer in New York, I have had the opportunity and the privilege to interact with the major players in the race for the 13th District. All of the candidates are out in full force looking for votes, and trying to pick up the pieces left over from the Vito Fosella scandal, which rocked the 13th District, and upset the balance of what has historically been a Republican-leaning voting population. Among the hopefuls are Steve Harrison (D), Michael McMahon (D), and Jamshad Wyne (R), all of whom I have had an opportunity to connect with. In particular I have had conversations with Mr. Wyne and Mr. Harrison about the importance of Arab American political involvement, and about the concerns of many Arab American voters.
Regardless of who emerges from the fray on September 9th, Arab American voters in the 13th District will have the opportunity to grill those candidates at the Yalla Vote Candidates Night. Yalla Vote will be hosting the Democratic and Republican nominees at Widdi Catering Hall on 56th St. and 6th Avenue at 6:30pm on October 23rd. Of course food will be served, and the dialogue between candidate and voter promises to be interesting. Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion of the 13th District congressional primary. Until then…
Project Breakout interviewed Dean Obeidallah, Maz Jobrani, and Ahmed Ahmed at the Arab American Institute’s Comedy Kabob. The night was a smash hit, with two shows at Bar Standard in Denver, Colorado. Politicos, activists, locals, and the glitterati rubbed elbows that Monday night, and got a good dose of politics and humor in the bargain.
Be sure to watch all the clips, because clips from their performances are embedded in the interview…
AAI President Dr. James Zogby spoke on July 18, 2008 at the City Club of Cleveland– “U.S. Middle East Policy & the 2008 Elections: A Critical Moment” (click here to hear Dr. Zogby’s speech). Later that day, he met with members of the local Arab American community, including members of C.A.M.E.O., AACCESS-Ohio, and AAI Ohio members. Dr. Zogby encouraged the community to become involved in this year’s election and answered questions about his talk that he did not get to answer earlier at the City Club.
St. George Festival in Toledo
St. George’s Church in Toledo, Ohio held its annual festival that same weekend. Although it rained on and off, hundreds came to experience Middle Eastern culture and socialize. And Yalla Vote was there with a table and volunteers collected signatures for the National Declaration and registered voters.
C.A.M.E.O. Annual Picnic
On July 20 in Cleveland, the Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization had its annual picnic at German Central Farm, inviting members of the Arab American community and local elected officials and candidates. I, along with a few volunteers, was also present collecting signatures and telling people about the Yalla Vote campaign.
Whether you’re a lone thinker or a social butterfly, there’s a way for you to make your hopes for the next administration heard.
AAI knows how to do it. Do you?
What are you doing next week? The Obama Campaign and the Republican Party have offered all Americans the opportunity to contribute to the Party Platforms this year. Arab Americans must make their voices heard in every way possible, and this is an extraordinary opportunity to do just that.
The Arab American Institute has made it easy for you to organize your own Platform Plank events, with forms and guidelines, and all the tools you’ll need to be a success. Don’t forget to use the language of the National Declaration to form your planks, and click here for instructions on how to get this done.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING!! If you form a platform plank event, please call AAI at (202) 420-0210, Community Relations, and we’ll send you Arab American Democrat/Republican buttons, signs, and other paraphernalia to make your party a success.
Hassan Abraham was born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, where he has been a committed community activist and student leader.He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in 2005, and he obtained his J.D. From Wayne State University Law School inSpring 2008.Hassan has previously interned with the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, and he was a Vice-Chair for Students Allied for Freedom and Equality, a social justice student organization at the University of Michigan.Recently, Hassan has been active in the presidential primary, traveling to several states to campaign on behalf of his preferred candidate.He has also worked in legal aid in Detroit, providing family law and disability law services to indigent clients.
Well, the Michigan staff of AAI is back in our Dearborn office this week, energized and fired up for an exciting summer and fall in Michigan. Our office is now fully operational, preparing the groundwork for a successful Yalla Vote campaign, and planning ways to make a powerful presence in the largest Arab community outside of the Middle East.
The training we experienced in Washington D.C. was incredibly informative, and we’ve already incorporated many of the great ideas that we learned at out training sessions in D.C., including the creation of a goal thermometer for the National Petition, and posting photos of our volunteers in our office. We look forward to developing this office much further, so that it becomes a true community hub, where activists, students, local leaders, and residents stop by and utilize the resources of the Yalla Vote campaign. Help make this office yours, come by to chat, pick up signs, tshirts or buttons, give us feedback, or sign the petition… this is your campaign, Yalla Vote!
It’s so important to do your homework when it comes to candidates… and not just the Presidential hopefuls, either. Pay attention to what those who would be your Congressmen and Senators are saying as they stump for a seat in Washington, D.C.
Watch this commercial by Harri Anne Smith, “a Republican member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 29th District since 1998. She has been elected to three terms in the State Senate and is also a former mayor of her hometown of Slocomb, Alabama.” (Wikipedia) Clearly, this is a woman who knows what she’s doing. But if you live in Alabama and care about Arab American issues, you might want to listen closely to her campaign rhetoric:
Quote: “It’s about time those Middle Eastern billionaire sheiks show us some gratitude by lowering their oil prices.”
It just leaves me scratching my head… Gratitude for WHAT?
Our thanks to Aparna Narayanan, whose piece in the Brooklyn Rail, Arab Americans head for the ballot box, offers such an eloquent glimpse into the life of new citizens…
If you’re second- or third-generation Arab American, the American political process is easy as breathing. You were born with the right to vote. For recent men and women just entering this crazy, wonderful country, negotiating the path to citizenship and the right to vote isn’t nearly as simple. Please read this article and YALLA VOTE!
Michigan field office intern Sarah Jaward did a wonderful job summarizing the Wellstone training sessions that took place the first weekend of April. Below are some excerpts from her report:
AAI Voter Engagement Training
On Friday April 4th through Saturday the 5th the Arab American Institute-Midwest office hosted its first ever Voter Engagement Training, featuring the Wellstone Action Fund. The aim of this initiative was to provide political training and leadership development with the expectation that the skills attainted by the attendees would be implemented back to their communities, helping to mobilize social change within the United States for the Arab American population as a whole.
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