VIDEO: TV news commentator bashes Islamophobic lawmakers
MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow took aim on Monday at four Republican members of U.S. Congress who announced they would demand an investigation into the Council of American-Islamic Relations during an Oct. 14 press conference, as they promoted a book entitled "Muslim Mafia." They accused CAIR of attempting to infiltrate Congress – by...Charity officials press for federal antiterrorism restrictions to be relaxed
After years of raising concerns that the federal government's antiterrorism rules constrain charities from performing humanitarian work overseas and dissuade Americans from giving, nonprofit officials are growing slightly more hopeful that some of those policies might be modified. A group of charity leaders has been gathering with...Pro-Israel group’s money trail veers hard right
WASHINGTON (IPS) — StandWithUs — an organization that "ensures that Israel's side of the story is told" — has become increasingly aggressive in challenging the "pro-Israel" credentials of moderate Jewish-American groups, going so far as to suggest that receiving money from Arab donors and supporters of Human Rights Watch undermines...
Can Detroit go green?
October 17th, 20090 DETROIT — Just as the auto industry was ripe for change in 1903 when Henry Ford set up Ford Motor Company in Detroit, carmakers again seem on the cusp of revolution. Hybrid and pure electric vehicles threaten to overthrow the dynasty of the old internal-combustion engine even as proposed greenhouse-gas legislation would undermine...Foreign policy hawks launch new campaign against Obama
WASHINGTON (IPS) — Just days after the Nobel Committee in Oslo awarded Barack Obama its coveted peace prize, two of Washington's most prominent foreign policy hawks launched a new group and ad campaign designed to depict the president as weak and defend the more aggressive policies of his predecessor, George W. Bush....U.S. berated for shielding Israel on Gaza killings
UNITED NATIONS — A U.S. decision to stall Security Council action against Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas for war crimes during the 22-day conflict in Gaza last December has come under heavy fire both from inside and outside the United Nations. Addressing the Security Council Wednesday, the chair of the 118-member...UM-Dearborn marks 50th Anniversary
Since being founded in 1959 on the original estate of automotive pioneer Henry Ford after a gift of land from Ford Motor Company, the University of Michigan-Dearborn has grown into one of the most distinguished and respected colleges of its kind. Students celebrate UM-Dearborn's 50th anniversary at the Henry Ford Estate on...
White House may silence Goldstone Report?
September 30th, 20090 WASHINGTON — The Obama administration sought to backtrack at presstime from news reports that it would silence a United Nations report critical of Israel's conduct in its Gaza War earlier this year. The mother of Rabia Tawil mourns at their house in the village of Tsur Baher, in East Jerusalem September 22, 2009. Troops shot...Religious leaders support Mideast push
WASHINGTON — More than 30 of the nation's most prominent and diverse religious leaders this week signed onto a public letter in support of "strong U.S. leadership to achieve a negotiated sustainable resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict." In the letter, which was coordinated by Churches for Middle East Peace, the leaders...
St. Jude’s/ALSAC mourns the loss of former CEO Richard C. Shadyac Sr.
September 19th, 20090 Memphis, Tenn. — Richard C. Shadyac Sr., who served 13 years as CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, passed away Wednesday evening after battling a lengthy illness. Richard C. Shadyac Sr. PHOTO: St. Jude Children's Research...Washington Children’s Hospital receives $150 million from United Arab Emirates
The Children’s National Medical Center in Washington received $150 million last week from the United Arab Emirates. The donation, one of the biggest a charity in the United States has received from a foreign source, comes at a time when most wealthy American donors are pulling back. Only two other gifts of $100-million or more...D.C. rally gets little mainstream news coverage
Thousands of people marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.on On Septe. 12, to protest government spending, before stopping at the U.S. Capitol Building for demonstrations. Thousands of demonstrators gather on the plaza near the U.S. Capitol to participate in a "Taxpayer March on DC" protest against President...Former principal of Arabic language school loses case against NYC
WASHINGTON — An Arab American slated to serve as the principal of the first Arabic-language public school in New York was pressured to resign in 2007 over comments she made to the media. This month, a judge dismissed Deborah Almontaser's case against the city, saying her free speech and due process rights were not...
Swine flu: 10 things you need to know
September 5th, 20090 ATLANTA — Since it first emerged in April, the global swine flu epidemic has sickened more than 1 million Americans and killed about 500. It's also spread around the world, infecting tens of thousands and killing nearly 2,000. This summer, the virus has been surprisingly tenacious in the U.S., refusing to fade away as flu viruses...Rosen accuses AIPAC of espionage
Steven J. Rosen's defamation lawsuit against the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is now entering a critical phase. A series of cross-filings stakes out the critical court terrain. Rosen intends to show that obtaining and leveraging classified U.S. government information in the service of Israel is common practice at......
Arab Americans trapped in Gaza hope for way out
For the past six weeks, Hani Almadhoun has been trapped in Gaza. His attempts to return to his home in Washington, DC have ended in failure, and it is not clear when he will get out. Palestinians gather near a tunnel bombed by Israeli aircraft in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip August 25, 2009. Israeli aircraft bombed a tunnel...VIDEO: Obama extends Ramadan greetings
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) issued a press release on August 21 calling for the U.S. Department of Treasury to ensure that American Muslim donors can fulfill their obligation to donate to Muslim charities without fear. The statement echoed President Barack Obama's call for the government to work with......
Arab American rendition of Obama becomes right-wing icon
Earlier this summer, posters of President Barack Obama appearing as the ominous Joker from the most recent Batman movie, "The Dark Knight" began appearing around Los Angeles and other cities. The poster had sprawled on the bottom the word "Socialism." Conservatives regard Obama's domestic policies as importing socialism into the United...Court reins in terror finance policy
NEW YORK (IPS) — A federal court this week ruled for the first time that the U.S. government cannot freeze an organization's assets under a terror financing law without a warrant based upon probable cause and without telling the organization the basis for its action and giving it a meaningful opportunity to defend itself. If the...J Street’s Muslim funding for peace
WASHINGTON (IPS) — News reports and right-wing blogs have been repeating reports which claim that Muslims and Arabs are among the donors to the J Street political action committee (PAC) which lobbies American policymakers to work on a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and helps raise campaign funds for candidates...
Rights group withdraws support of Cohen
August 22nd, 20090 The following press release was issued on 18 August 2009 by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel and the New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel: Author, poet, songwriter, musician and singer Leonard Cohen. Amnesty International has announced today that it will abstain from any involvement......
Senate approves ‘Clunkers’ extension
August 7th, 20090 The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted to provide an extra $2 billion in funding to the popular "Cash for Clunkers" program. A vehicle sits in a dumpster on display in front of Bill Wink Chevrolet dealership to attract customers in for the "Cash For Clunkers' program in Dearborn, Michigan August 6, 2009. The U.S. Senate voted on...
Obama gives Arab American painting to Iraq
July 31st, 20090 WASHINGTON — During Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's visit to the United States last week, President Barack Obama presented the leader with a gift, a painting by Arab American artist Helen Zughaib. Zughaib's art work is notable for its rich use of colors and for depicting scenes of Arab life in hopeful, healing and spiritual......
Black scholar’s arrest raises profiling questions
BOSTON — Supporters of a prominent Harvard University black scholar who was arrested at his own home by police responding to a report of a break-in say he is the victim of racial profiling. Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. had forced his way through the front door of his home because it was...
The Byzantine world of immigration detention
July 25th, 20090 NEW YORK — Duarnis Perez, a native of the Dominican Republic, became a U.S. citizen at 15 when his mother was naturalized. But he didn't know that meant he was also a citizen. He thought he was an illegal immigrant, and so did the authorities. He was deported and subsequently arrested trying to sneak back into the U.S. from Canada.......