Arab Americans launch national coalition

Representatives from twenty-eight Arab-American organizations met in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to establish a Congress of Arab-American Organizations (CAAO), the American-Arab anti-Discrimination Committee said in a message e-mailed to MAP.

This umbrella framework which includes local, regional and national groups was launched in August to enhance cooperation, communication and coordination among more than 120 groups that were invited to be part of the initial Congress. Membership is open to all organizations serving Arab Americans.

The CAAO effort is being coordinated jointly by the ADC and the Arab American Institute (AAI). More than 40 organizations have taken part in the first two organizing meetings.

Major concerns raised during the meeting included: The civil rights of Arab Americans in light of increased security concerns in the United States, U.S. foreign policies related to the situation in Palestine and Iraq, spillover from war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and building alliances with like-minded organizations.