We are heartbroken over the violence directed against innocent civilians in the Middle East. The images and utter lack of humanity we have seen perpetrated against Palestinians in Gaza this week are especially horrific. Palestinians have lived without freedom, self-determination or proper access to basic needs, and under a constant barrage of violence for decades. As those in Gaza run out of fuel, food, and water, while being blockaded from escaping, this humanitarian crisis will only worsen, leaving the large number of children to suffer most.
The National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) and its members work together across 31 communities in 12 states to serve Arab Americans. On behalf of Arab Americans across the country and our many allies, we are deeply disturbed by the hateful and dehumanizing rhetoric most politicians and media members are using to refer to Palestinians. This is not only having an impact on the response to attacks on innocent Palestinians, but also on Palestinians and more broadly Arab Americans in the US.
This dehumanizing rhetoric creates a climate of fear, hate and misinformation surrounding Arab and Muslim Americans. It is for that reason, we call on our elected government officials, including the Biden administration and US Congress, to demonstrate true leadership, objectivity, evenhandedness, and sensitivity in their rhetoric. We expect, as leaders who represent everyone in this nation, to state unequivocally that no person should be discriminated against simply for being Arab American or for expressing their support for the suffering of innocent Palestinian civilians. This rhetoric should be unequivocally and publicly condemned.
Please see the links below to email and call your member of Congress. It is time to stand together and take action now.
→ Tell Congress: Stop fueling the Gaza genocide. | Adalah Justice Project
Link: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/urgent-stop-the-genocidal-bombing-of-gaza?source=mc_email
→ Tell Congress: Open humanitarian access to Gaza now! | AFSC
Link: https://afsc.org/action/tell-congress-open-humanitarian-access-gaza-now
→ Tell Congress: Stop fueling the Gaza genocide | USCPR
Link: https://uscpr.org/GazaCall
→ CALL ON CONGRESS TO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA | AJP Action
Link: https://palestine.salsalabs.org/gazaceasefire/index.html