An online petition, expressing concern with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’s (ADC) handling of the sexual harassment scandal that has rocked the organization over the last few months garnered over 500 signatures from across the country in less than three days. The initial goal of the petition was to get 500 signatures.  

In addition to expressing dismay about the outcome of ADC’s investigation into several sexual harassment claims made against Imad Hamad, the former head of ADC Michigan, the petition extends solidarity with all the women who made reports that they were sexually harassed by Hamad. 

The petition also fully supports the Coalition against Sexual Assault and Harassment (CASAH) that was created by Arab American women who turned to the ADC with sexual harassment complaints and say they were never properly addressed. 

In a previous interview with The Arab American News, Nadine Naber, a former intern of ADC, who served as a board member of the San Francisco chapter from 1999 to 2000 and also taught an Arab studies program at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor said Arab women had to create their own organization to defend themselves from sexual harassment because ADC, the premier civil rights organization for Arab Americans in the country, would not defend them. 

The petition is part of a movement that has emerged in the Arab American community against sexual harassment after the ADC scandal broke out. 

The online petition was created after all female staff members of ADC National went on strike Oct. 21 and then officially resigned from their positions last week, amid the termination of Raed Jarrar, ADC’s former communications and advocacy director, who was terminated because he, along with his co-workers, inquired internally about the sexual harassment investigation and raised concern about the board’s decision to keep Hamad on staff as an advisor. 

ADC National President Warren David has reportedly been placed on probation by the ADC National Board of Directors for appearing sympathetic towards the women who have made claims about being sexually harassed by Hamad.