Also:
May 1st – adc.org/update-to-our-community/
April 14th – adc.org/action-alert/block-the-bombs-and-bulldozers/
April 8th – adc.org/action-alert/act-now-to-stop-israels-u-s-backed-assault-on-lebanon/
April 3rd – adc.org/adc-files-amicus-brief-mahmoud-khalil/
Originally posted at: adc.org/adc-files-motion-to-intervene-in-defense-of-medfords-landmark-values-aligned-investment-ordinance/
ADC Files Motion to Intervene in Defense of Medford's Landmark Values-aligned Investment Ordinance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2026
ADC Brings Legal Weight to Protect Municipal Autonomy as Out-of-State Foundations Seek to Override a Democratically Enacted Law
MEDFORD, Mass., — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) today announces it is serving as co-counsel in a Motion to Intervene filed in federal court (Case No. 1:26-cv-10589-GAO) to defend the Medford, Massachusetts’ Values-Aligned Local Investments Ordinance against a legal challenge brought by two out-of-state foundations.
ADC is filing alongside The Medford Coalition for Values-Aligned Investment and local counsel Micah-Shalom Kesselman. The organizations are intervening on behalf of municipal taxpayers and Medford community members advocating for fundamental human rights, and who are directly impacted by the suppression of protected speech.
The ordinance – the third of its kind enacted in the United States – requires the city to divest public funds from weapons manufacturers, fossil fuels, private prisons, and companies found to be complicit in human rights violations, including in contexts such as the genocide in Palestine, companies in which Medford currently holds $12 million in trust fund investment. The ordinance was passed in August and has drawn support from a number of advocacy groups since, including Medford for Palestine, the New England Jewish Labor Bund, Medford’s Energy & Environment Committee, and Medford People Power.
“This case will resonate across Arab American communities and beyond, particularly for communities concerned with global human rights issues, including those related to Palestine and Sudan. If the challenge succeeds, it could set a precedent threatening similar values-aligned investment policies nationwide. ADC is committed to ensuring that does not happen,” said ADC staff attorney Malak Afaneh. “ADC calls on the City of Medford to mount a full and vigorous defense of the ordinance and urges the court to grant the Motion to Intervene without delay.”
ABOUT THE ADC
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the United States, founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk. ADC’s mission is to defend and promote the human rights, civil rights, and liberties of at least 3.7 million Arab Americans residing in the United States. Through its work, ADC fights discrimination, enhances public understanding of Arab history and culture, and partners with marginalized communities globally to advance social justice. The ADC can be found online at: https://adc.org/.
See also:
April 23rd it was announced that Ahmed Shihab-Eldin had been acquitted of all charges and was to be released, but on the 29th a decree published in the Al Kuwait Al Yawm announced that he had been stripped of Kuwaiti citizenship: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Shihab-Eldin
adc.org/action-alert/free-ahmed-shihab-eldin/
Originally posted at: adc.org/adc-calls-for-immediate-release-of-u-s-citizen-and-journalist-ahmed-shihab-eldin-detained-in-kuwait/
ADC Calls for Immediate Release of U.S. Citizen and Journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin Detained in Kuwait
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2026
Washington, D.C. — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) calls for the immediate release of Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a U.S. citizen and journalist who was arrested in Kuwait on March 3 and has remained in detention for six weeks. His detention only came to light publicly today.
Reports indicate Kuwaiti authorities arrested Ahmed after he posted material related to the downing of U.S. aircraft over Kuwait near a U.S. air base. He is an American citizen, and now that his detention is public, the White House and U.S. Department of State should move with urgency and press for his release.
“Ahmed Shihab-Eldin has been sitting in detention in Kuwait since March 3, and the public is only learning about it now,” said Abed Ayoub, National Executive Director of ADC. “He is a U.S. citizen and a journalist, which raises serious concerns about speech, press freedom, and the treatment of Americans abroad. His detention demands immediate public action from the White House and the State Department, and there should be no ambiguity about that.”
Ahmed’s detention will resonate deeply across Arab American communities, especially among journalists, advocates, and public voices who speak openly about Palestine, U.S. foreign policy, and war in the region. Cases like this carry consequences far beyond one person, especially when an American is detained over speech-related allegations and the facts remain obscured for weeks.
ADC urges the White House and the U.S. Department of State to act immediately and publicly to secure Ahmed Shihab-Eldin’s release and press for any charges against him to be dropped in full.
See also:
Originally posted at: cpj.org/2026/04/cpj-calls-on-kuwait-to-release-us-kuwaiti-journalist-ahmed-shihab-eldin/
CPJ calls on Kuwait to release US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
April 14, 2026 6:58 AM EDT
Washington, D.C., April 13, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kuwaiti authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Kuwaiti-American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin.
Shihab-Eldin, an award-winning journalist who posts prolifically on social media, has not posted online or been seen in public in Kuwait – where he was visiting family – since March 2. It is understood that authorities have charged him with spreading false information, harming national security, and misusing his mobile phone – vague and overly broad accusations that are routinely used to silence independent journalists.
“We call on Kuwait to release Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and drop all charges against him,” said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. “Journalism is not a crime, and Shihab-Eldin’s case reflects a broader pattern of using national security laws to stifle scrutiny and control the narrative.”
Prior to his detention, Shihab-Eldin – who has contributed to The New York Times, PBS, and Al Jazeera English, among others – commented on publicly available videos and images related to the Iran war. His recent posts included a geolocated video, verified by CNN, showing a U.S. fighter jet crash near a U.S. air base in Kuwait.
His detention came amid military escalations during the Iran war, with Kuwaiti authorities – and other Gulf countries— imposing increasingly tight censorship over the press. On March 2, a few days after the start of the Iran war, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior warned against filming or publishing videos or information related to Iranian attacks, noting that several people were arrested for spreading false news. The Ministry of Information has also referred individuals accused of violating media laws to the Public Prosecution.
On March 15, Kuwait enacted Law No. 13 of 2026, aimed at safeguarding and protecting the supreme interests of military authorities, including the army, police and the National Guard. Article 26 imposes prison sentences up to 10 years for anyone who “disseminates news, publishes statements, or spreads false rumors related to military entities” with the intent of undermining confidence in them.
Yitzchak Horowitz, a journalist for the weekly Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) newspaper BeKehila, reported on March 26 that he had been arrested earlier in Kuwait on suspicion of espionage after photographing U.S. warships off the Gulf coast. He said he was questioned for several hours about his identity, his ties to Israel, and whether he had a military background before being released.
In 2025, CPJ submitted a joint report to the United Nations Human Rights Council, ahead of Kuwait’s Universal Periodic Review, documenting an escalating crackdown on journalists and press freedom in the country.
CPJ emailed the Kuwaiti Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comment but received no immediate response.
Sign CPJ’s petition calling for the release of Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
Originally posted at: adc.org/adc-demands-immediate-action-from-the-united-states-as-israel-escalates-its-u-s-backed-genocidal-assault-on-lebanon/
ADC Demands Immediate Action from the United States as Israel Escalates its U.S.-backed Genocidal-Assault on Lebanon
—a relentless siege marked by systematic destruction, dispossession, and the plundering of civilian life and infrastructure
Washington, D.C. | adc.org | April 8, 2026 — In just 24 hours, Israel’s genocidal regime, backed and armed by the U.S. government, has launched a relentless bombardment on Lebanon, an assault amounting to outright genocide, while world leaders, including those in Washington, stand by and do nothing.
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) joins voices across the country and calls for immediate action from the United States to stop an escalating phase of Israel’s genocidal campaign in the region. The intensifying bombardment of Lebanon is almost certainly happening with the knowledge and coordination of the U.S.
The United States is not a bystander to this horror. U.S. weapons, U.S. impunity, and U.S. political cowardice have enabled this pillage and plunder. Every hour Washington refuses to restrain Israel’s regime is another hour that gives it permission to keep carpet bombing civilians and pull this country toward a wider war —one that does not serve American interests, does not make Americans safer, and does not advance peace. Our tax dollars are paying for this.
ADC calls on all elected officials to act immediately:
- Demand an immediate end to Israel’s bombing of Lebanon.
- State publicly and unequivocally that any ceasefire must include Lebanon.
- Suspend U.S. military support to Israel.
- Reject any attempt by Netanyahu to use Lebanon to reignite or widen war with Iran.
- Impose concrete consequences for persistent attacks on civilians and continued violations of international law.
Israel’s regime has made it clear that it will massacre, destroy, and escalate without limit, so long as Washington is bankrolling it. Every hour of inaction, every dollar of military aid, fuels the slaughter in Lebanon and deepens regional chaos. ADC calls on Congress and the Administration to act decisively: demand an immediate end to the bombing, cut military support, enforce accountability, and ensure Lebanon is included in any ceasefire. The world is watching. History will condemn those who funded this massacre and stood idle.
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashida_Tlaib
Originally posted at: adc.org/urge-congress-support-rashida-tlaibs-lebanon-resolutions/
ADC Supports Rep. Rashida Tlaib's Lebanon Resolutions, Urges Congress to Act Against Escalating Regional Violence and Unauthorized U.S. Military Involvement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 2026
media[at]adc[ ]org
Washington, D.C. | – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) strongly supports the two resolutions introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib [D-MI] addressing Israel’s escalating assault on Lebanon and the growing, unauthorized involvement of the United States in a widening regional war.
Israel’s assault on Lebanon has killed more than 1,500 people, including children, and displaced more than 1.2 million people. Israeli forces have demolished homes, apartment buildings, bridges, mosques, churches, water systems, sanitation networks, and medical facilities, attacked ambulances and first responders, and battered the country’s healthcare infrastructure. White phosphorus has been fired on residential neighborhoods as Israeli officials openly invoke the “Gaza model” for Lebanon and threaten displacement, territorial expansion, and long-term occupation.
Lebanon stands at the center of these resolutions, but Congress cannot treat Lebanon in isolation from the wider military campaigns threatening the region. Gaza remains shattered. Israeli violence and settlement expansion continue across the West Bank. The widening U.S.-Israel war on Iran is pushing the region toward even greater destruction. Rep. Tlaib’s own statement places Lebanon within this larger pattern, warning that the same genocidal playbook used in Gaza is now being carried into Lebanon.
Rep. Tlaib’s Lebanon resolution calls for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, an end to airstrikes and violations of Lebanese sovereignty, suspension of U.S. military aid used in violation of international law, accountability for war crimes, humanitarian and reconstruction aid, the safe return of displaced Lebanese civilians, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Lebanese nationals in the United States.
The Lebanon War Powers Resolution addresses an equally urgent constitutional issue. Congress has not declared war and has not authorized U.S. military involvement in Lebanon, yet the United States has moved further into hostilities. The War Powers Resolution makes clear that Congress, not the President, holds the authority to declare war and to direct the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized military action.
“Israel’s assault on Lebanon is unfolding alongside the destruction of Gaza, escalating violence in the West Bank, and the widening U.S.-Israel war on Iran, while the United States continues to bankroll this escalation with American taxpayer dollars,” said Abed Ayoub, National Executive Director of ADC. “Congress cannot keep funding the wars Israel wants, protecting Israel from accountability, and accepting permanent regional violence as the cost of doing business. American support has fueled mass killing, forced displacement, and the destruction of entire communities, and it must end.”
ADC urges every member of Congress to support Rep. Tlaib’s Lebanon resolution and War Powers resolution, oppose further military aid that fuels these attacks, and act immediately to stop the expansion of violence across Lebanon and the region.
Originally posted at: adc.org/university-of-michigan-lawsuit-moves-forward/
Federal Court Allows First Amendment Claims to Proceed in Lawsuit Challenging University of Michigan Firings and Blacklisting of Pro-Palestine Protesters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2026
media@adc.org
ANN ARBOR, MI | The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), serving as co-counsel alongside the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, secured a significant ruling in a federal lawsuit challenging the University of Michigan’s termination and blacklisting of employees who participated in pro-Palestine protests.
The case, Hakim et al. v. Regents et al., was filed on behalf of one full-time employee and multiple student workers who were terminated and permanently barred from future employment after engaging in peaceful, off-duty protests advocating for Palestinian human rights and the University’s divestment from Israel.
In a decision issued on March 31, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan denied significant portions of the University’s motion to dismiss, allowing all of the plaintiffs’ First Amendment retaliation theories to proceed.
The court found that the plaintiffs plausibly alleged they were terminated and subjected to rehire bans because of protected speech on matters of public concern through their participation in campus protests. The ruling also allows claims to proceed based on alleged retaliation tied to the filing of the lawsuit itself.
“This court’s decision is a critical step forward,” said Malak Afaneh, staff attorney with ADC and co-counsel in the case. “Our clients engaged in protected speech on one of the most important human rights issues of our time. The Constitution does not allow a public university to retaliate against workers for that speech.”
While the court dismissed certain claims at this stage, including due-process and conspiracy claims, the decision allows the central constitutional question of unlawful retaliation for protected speech to move forward to the next phase of litigation.
“The core of this case remains intact,” Afaneh added. “This is about whether a public institution can punish individuals for expressing pro-Palestine views and strip them of their livelihood in doing so. The court made clear those claims deserve to be heard, and we look forward to holding the University accountable.”
See also: www.rt.com/news/639386-ben-gvir-birthday-noose-cake/
Originally posted, March 30th, at: adc.org/statement-on-israels-death-penalty-law-for-palestinians/
ADC Statement on Israel's Death Penalty Law for Palestinians
Today, Israel passed a law making death the default sentence for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank convicted in military courts of lethal attacks labeled “terrorism.” Executions are to be carried out by hanging within 90 days of sentencing, with no route for appeal or clemency and only a vague carveout for “special circumstances.”
The law is built around the two-tier legal regime Israel imposes in the West Bank, where Palestinians are prosecuted under military law while Jewish settlers are subject to a separate civilian system.
These kangaroo military courts have long served as instruments of control and punishment, marked by coercive interrogation, forced confessions through torture, prolonged detention, and conviction rates so high that a fair trial is effectively out of reach.
Israel’s death penalty is now being written into that same apartheid legal order, effectively opening yet another front in its genocidal campaign through formalized, state-sanctioned killing.
See also:
Nerdeen Kiswani is a founder of Within Our Lifetime – United For Palestine (WOL), formerly NYC Students for Justice in Palestine. A member of the JDL 613 Brotherhood was arrested by the FBI and NYPD March 26th in Hoboken, New Jersey. – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerdeen_Kiswani
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Within_Our_Lifetime
Originally posted, March 27th, at: adc.org/statement-on-assassination-plot-against-nerdeen-kiswani/
ADC Statement on Assassination Plot against Nerdeen Kiswani
The assassination plot against Nerdeen Kiswani is a reminder of the threat that Zionist terror groups pose to our community and society as a whole. We are closely following the case in which a member of a Jewish Defense League (JDL) offshoot has been accused of planning to firebomb Kiswani’s home and flee to Israel. This is a serious and credible threat against a Palestinian American advocate, and it is the consequence of longstanding impunity for Israel and the normalization of Zionist terrorism and extremism.
This moment is not without precedent. In 1985, ADC’s West Coast Regional Director, Alex Odeh, was killed in a bombing outside his office in Santa Ana, California. That attack was linked to individuals associated with the Jewish Defense League, a group connected to numerous bombings and attempted assassinations targeting Arab American activists throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
Odeh’s killers fled to Israel and have lived there without accountability since, the case remaining “unresolved” decades later. The failure to deliver justice then underscores the danger of inaction now. When perpetrators are not held accountable, it creates the conditions for violence to repeat itself.
ADC calls for a full, transparent, and immediate investigation. The Department of Justice must ensure that any and all individuals involved are identified, charged, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law—without delay or exception.
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Meiner
Originally posted, March 23rd, at: adc.org/adc-miami-beach-lawsuit/
BREAKING: ADC Sues City of Miami Beach, Mayor, Police Chief, and Other Government Officials for Silencing Pro-Palestine Speech
WASHINGTON, D.C. | The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) today filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Miami Beach, its mayor Steven Meiner, and several other city officials for violating the First Amendment rights of Raquel Pacheco, a veteran and resident of Miami Beach, after police were sent to her home in response to her social media criticism of the Mayor and his dehumanization of Palestinians.
The lawsuit alleges that the city has a pattern of suppressing and punishing speech expressing support for Palestinians or critical of Israel, and that Ms. Pacheco was targeted as part of this practice.
In January of 2026, Miami Beach police officers arrived at Ms. Pacheco’s home in response to a post she had written sharply faulting the Mayor for his statements about Palestine and attempts to censor No Other Land, a film that tells the story of the destruction of a Palestinian community at the hands of Israel. Officers summoned Ms. Pacheco to the door, told her that her speech was “concerning,” and instructed her to “refrain from posting things like that.” Ms. Pacheco captured the encounter on video and it quickly spread online, prompting widespread concern over government retaliation for protected political speech.
The complaint alleges that the police visit was not an isolated incident, but part of a broader effort by city officials to suppress pro-Palestinian viewpoints and shield the Mayor from criticism. According to the filing, the Mayor’s conduct, combined with actions taken by city officials, reflects an escalating pattern of targeting speech based on viewpoint, particularly when that speech relates to Palestine or criticism of Israeli government policies.
Among the allegations detailed in the complaint:
- Speakers at City Commission meetings expressing support for Palestinians have been interrupted, silenced, or cut short, while opposing viewpoints are permitted to continue.
- City actions and enforcement decisions have disproportionately targeted demonstrations and advocacy connected to Palestinian rights.
- Local cultural institutions have faced pressure after hosting programming related to Palestinian life, including a theater targeted after screening No Other Land, the Academy Award–winning documentary about the destruction and ethnic cleansing of the West Bank.
- Individuals critical of the Mayor’s positions have been blocked or otherwise silenced on official or quasi-official social media channels.
The viral police visit to Ms. Pacheco’s home exemplifies how this pattern manifests in practice: a resident engages in protected political speech, the Mayor’s office takes notice, and law enforcement is sent to deliver what we characterize as an unmistakable warning. The result is a chilling effect not only on Ms. Pacheco but on the broader community watching the incident unfold online. Following the police visit, Ms. Pacheco curtailed her online speech so as not to risk another police visit and possible punishment for her posts.
“The First Amendment prohibits the government from using the coercive power of the State to suppress political dissent,” said ADC National Legal Director Jenin Younes. “Here, the mayor and police chief sent law enforcement officers to the home of a Miami Beach resident, intimated that her speech could subject her to punishment, and ordered her not to post such content. This kind of unlawful action chills speech, because most people will stay silent rather than risk future punishment. That is exactly what the First Amendment sought to prevent, and why we are filing this lawsuit.”
Ms. Pacheco seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as compensatory damages for the distress, fear, humiliation, and reputational damage this treatment caused her.
Younes continued: “In many parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom, people are being arrested and charged with crimes for advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people. The First Amendment prohibits that from happening here, and that’s why it’s crucial that courts recognize that what happened to Ms. Pacheco was dangerous and unlawful, and cannot be permitted to happen again–to her and anyone else.”
“One does not truly understand the meaning of freedom of speech until that freedom is under attack. Every day since January 12th, when police appeared at my door, I have lived that reality firsthand. There is nothing more un-American than an assault on free speech. I look forward to prevailing in this case–not only for myself, but to ensure that no one in our city ever has to face this kind of abuse. We have an opportunity to set a precedent that clearly prohibits these attacks on civil liberties and the abuse of power by elected officials and law enforcement.” — Raquel Pacheco
ADC filed this case to ensure that the Mayor’s message is rejected and that the Constitution’s protections apply equally to all viewpoints, including those expressed in support of Palestinian human rights. We call on civil liberties advocates, community leaders, and the public to stand in defense of Ms. Pacheco and the fundamental right to speak freely without fear of government retaliation.
For questions, please contact media[at]adc[ ]org
Originally posted at: adc.org/adc-statement-on-synagogue-car-ramming-in-michigan/
ADC Statement on Synagogue Car Ramming in Michigan
Washington, D.C. | March 13, 2026 – As the Michigan Arab, Muslim, and Jewish communities in Michigan deal with the aftermath of the car ramming at a West Bloomfield synagogue, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) expresses its concern for all those impacted, and reaffirms that every person has the right to worship in peace and safety, whether at a synagogue in West Bloomfield, or a church in Gaza.
This act is obviously and easily condemnable and should not be tolerated against any community. In addition, moments like this require more than denunciation alone. They require honesty about the conditions that produce despair, trauma, and instability. For the Arab American community, this is a moment for us to take seriously the mental health impacts of genocide, war, grief, and devastating family loss.
Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old Lebanese American man, had just lost two brothers, a niece, and a nephew in Israeli strikes in Lebanon. That fact does not justify what occurred at the synagogue. What it does is underscore the profound trauma that genocide inflicts on families and communities, including here in the United States. His death, confirmed as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, is a devastating reminder of how deeply that trauma can rupture a person’s life and judgment.
ADC urges our community to take seriously the emotional and psychological toll of this moment. The repeated exposure to death, violence, and loss across the region is affecting our families, our young people, and our communities in profound ways. We must be attentive to signs of distress, isolation, hopelessness, and crisis in those we love, and we must respond with care, support, and intervention. ADC encourages community members who are struggling or concerned about a loved one to reach out for support and resources.
“The actions of this individual are an outlier. Arab, Muslim, and Jewish communities in Michigan have lived alongside one another for generations, and we have every reason to believe they will continue to do so. One incident must not be allowed to define entire communities or fracture relationships built over decades. Outsiders will attempt to use this tragic event to divide communities, and we must not allow that to happen,” said ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub.
ADC stands with all communities who are facing hate and bigotry in these trying times. We will continue to work with our allies to foster greater tolerance and inclusivity in a safer country for all.
See also: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walid_Khalidi
Originally posted at: adc.org/passing-of-pioneer-walid-khalidi/
Statement: ADC Mourns the Passing of Walid Khalidi, a Pioneering Scholar for Palestine
Washington, D.C. | March 9, 2026 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) expresses its great sadness at the passing of Walid Khalidi, a pioneering scholar of Palestinian history.
Khalidi passed away on Sunday, March 8, at the age of 100, after a decades-long career that laid the groundwork for the academic study of modern Palestinian history. Throughout his life, Khalidi bore witness to the injustice inflicted upon his people and tirelessly worked to correct the historical record, which, until Khalidi’s groundbreaking research, was rooted in Zionist mythology.
Walid Khalidi was born in Jerusalem, Palestine, in 1925, and studied at the University of London and Oxford University, where he also taught until resigning his position to protest the tripartite invasion of Egypt by Britain, France, and Israel in 1956. He later taught at the American University of Beirut and the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard and Princeton University.
In 1963, Mr. Khalidi co-founded the Institute for Palestine Studies (IPS), which remains the most comprehensive archive of Palestinian history and current affairs. IPS is based in Beirut, with offices in Washington, D.C., and Jerusalem.
During the 1950s, when Zionist discourse dominated Western narratives, Khalidi effectively challenged the Zionist myth that Palestinians fled out of their own free will or under Arab government pressure. Instead, his scholarship demonstrated that Zionist claims about Arab broadcasts were false and that the Zionist Plan Dalet was the main cause of the Palestinian refugee crisis.
Mr. Khalidi further documented the expulsion of Palestinians in his seminal work All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948, and his book Before Their Diaspora: A Photographic History of the Palestinians, 1876–1948, remains one of the most detailed records of Palestinian life before the Nakba. Additionally, Khalidi’s introduction to the anthology From Haven to Conquest offers one of the best insights into the origins of the Palestinian struggle. (See the abridged version below.)
ADC has been honored to host Khalidi at our annual conferences multiple times, where audiences have always deeply appreciated his unmatched insight and knowledge. For his lifelong scholarship, which significantly shifted academic understanding of Palestine, Khalidi was recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Khalidi’s impact went beyond academia as his scholarship was widely disseminated and helped countless people better understand the Palestinian cause. His legacy is the growing support for Palestinian rights.
Khalidi’s insights will be profoundly missed, but we honor his legacy by continuing the fight to free Palestine.
Recommended Reading:
Originally posted at: adc.org/statement-adc-demands-safe-evacuation-of-u-s-citizens-and-residents-overseas-guidance-available-through-adc/
Statement: ADC Demands Safe Evacuation of U.S. Citizens and Residents Overseas; Guidance Available Through ADC
Washington, D.C. | March 5, 2026 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) calls on the U.S. State Department to use all available resources to ensure the evacuation of U.S. citizens overseas who are currently in harm’s way as the war on Iran escalates.
U.S. citizens who are currently stuck overseas and wish to evacuate are encouraged to register with the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which can help U.S. embassies and consulates contact you and share important information.
In the past, ADC has facilitated efforts between the U.S. government and our community to ensure the dissemination of accurate information to both community members and the U.S. State Department. ADC is continuing these efforts under the current administration. As part of our efforts, U.S. citizens currently overseas and seeking evacuation, in addition to registering with STEP, are also encouraged to register with ADC.
Completion of the form provides an added layer of assurance that our community members are fully accounted for and that their information is in the hands of the State Department. Please note that this form does not guarantee facilitation of evacuation efforts.
ADC has communicated to the Trump administration the urgency of allocating equal resources to all American citizens and permanent residents in the region. “We are urging the Trump administration not to make the same mistakes made by the Biden Administration, who failed miserably at fulfilling their obligation and duty of protecting all U.S. citizens,” emphasized ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub. “The Biden Administration was not prepared for any evacuation and sadly put Israel and Israelis first, before the needs and requests of U.S. citizens across the region. We cannot afford to see the same mistakes made again. We are encouraging this administration to do all they can to protect all Americans.”
The State Department can take immediate action, including by updating its Assistance Request form to include Lebanon and Iraq, which are currently absent from the list that includes Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia. The omission of Lebanon and Iraq is inexplicable, given that the official travel advisory for both nations was recently updated to Level 4: Do not travel.
Americans overseas now find themselves in a difficult situation. Our government has a duty and obligation to ensure they return home safely.
Originally posted at: adc.org/adc-condemns-unauthorized-u-s-war-on-iran/
ADC Statement on Unauthorized U.S War on Iran
Washington, D.C. | www.adc.org | February 28, 2026 – The decision to follow orders from Prime Minister Netanyahu to plunge the United States into war with Iran is reckless, unnecessary, and exactly the kind of action that will drag Americans into another forever war in the region. American tax dollars must not be used to advance Israel’s political and foreign policy agenda. There is absolutely no justification for what is unfolding.
These actions will cost lives across the region, destabilize it, and fuel economic shocks. It will also displace civilians, forcing them to flee in search of safety from bombing and aggression. The blowback will return home, hurting ordinary Americans while enriching the people and industries that profit from endless war.
President Trump ran on the promise of putting America First and ending all wars. This decision is not America First. It is Israel First. This is another war fought for Israel and falsely sold to the public as “security” and paid for with American taxpayer dollars.
Congress must act immediately to end this unauthorized war. Congressional leaders have already moved toward a War Powers Resolution to block or halt U.S. strikes and force a vote. That action must proceed without delay, and every member of Congress must go on record: either you defend the Constitution, or you enable another endless war.
[TAKE ACTION: Tell Your Rep. to Support the War Powers Resolution]
We know what comes next here in the U.S., because we’ve seen it before: war abroad leads to oppressive domestic policies. Israel-First lawmakers will push and promote anti-Arab, anti-Iranian, and anti-Muslim hate, and are already pushing repressive policies designed to criminalize free speech, punish protest, expand blacklists, and label dissent as “extremism.” ADC is actively fighting these efforts and will continue to do so—in legislatures, in courtrooms, and in public.
Officials use overseas conflict as an excuse to expand surveillance, silence dissent, build watchlists, and criminalize protest while due process and basic freedoms are quietly pushed aside. These crackdowns never stay “targeted.” Once emboldened, this playbook will expand until everyone feels it.
ADC will fight against any domestic crackdown tied to this war, publicly and in court. No intimidation, no profiling, no censorship, no targeting of Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, Iranian, or South Asian communities, or anyone who speaks out. No new wars. No Israel-first foreign policy. No surrender of our rights at home.
Originally posted at: adc.org/adc-sues-randy-fine/
Breaking: ADC Sues Rep. Randy Fine for Violating First Amendment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Moments ago, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), together with Muslim Legal, filed a federal lawsuit against U.S. Representative Randy Fine of Florida. Rep. Fine, one of the most bigoted and racist members ever elected to federal office, is being sued for violating the First Amendment Rights of plaintiff Amjad Masad. After going on a racist tirade on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Fine blocked Mr. Masad for mocking his anti-Muslim post.
The lawsuit challenges Fine’s blatant viewpoint discrimination by using an official public forum to speak about government business, then silencing critics who respond to his rhetoric. ADC’s complaint alleges that Fine posted inflammatory, anti-Muslim rhetoric and then blocked Masad for pushing back, cutting him off from participating in public discussion threads Fine has opened to everyone else.
The lawsuit is filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Bringing this lawsuit is part of ADC’s commitment to defending the First Amendment rights of our community and pushing back against bigots like Rep. Fine who seek to silence the voices of Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims. Litigation is resource-intensive. ADC is asking supporters to help sustain and expand this work defending civil rights and challenging government censorship.
Background
The complaint explains in detail how Rep. Fine uses his official X account to communicate with the public about legislative activity, official matters, and political positions, and he keeps the account’s reply and engagement functions open to the public. In February 2026, after Fine posted a statement disparaging Muslims, Masad replied with a sarcastic political comment criticizing Fine’s statement. Fine then blocked Masad, excluding him from viewing, replying, and participating in the interactive space on Fine’s official page.
The Supreme Court holds that the First Amendment does not allow a public official to create a public forum for civic discussion and then ban opposing voices because they don’t like the criticism.
“We bring this lawsuit because the First Amendment does not allow elected officials to spread bigotry from an official platform and then silence the people they target when they respond. Rep. Fine put himself in public service. That means he answers to the public. He does not get to isolate himself from criticism while using official channels to push his agenda.”
— Jenin Younes, National Legal Director, ADC
“This case is about the First Amendment and the basic rule that government officials cannot engage in viewpoint discrimination. Rep. Fine used an official account to address public matters and invited public participation—then blocked a critic for speaking back. The Constitution doesn’t allow elected officials to turn official public forums into censorship zones.”
— Hassan Shibly, Attorney, Muslim Legal (Co-Counsel)
“The central issue here is straightforward: a public official cannot open forums for public discussion and then silence people because they criticize him. The fact that this censorship followed anti-Muslim rhetoric underscores the reality of what happened. Rep. Fine attacked a community, then tried to shut down the response. The First Amendment protects the public’s right to speak, criticize, and petition their government without being punished for it.”
— Malak Afaneh, Staff Attorney, ADC
This lawsuit is part of ADC’s ongoing national work to hold public officials accountable when they abuse government platforms to suppress protected speech and undermine civil rights. ADC will continue to challenge censorship and defend the public’s right to participate in civic life without being excluded for their viewpoint.
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