Washington — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is set to begin the 2008 National Convention on Friday.

The event is titled “Securing the Principles of Liberty,” and will take place over the weekend, June 13-15, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, DC. 

 

Day 1

Dr. Hussein Ibish

Friday’s events begin with the Arab American leadership workshop featuring Dr. Hussein Ibish, followed by a luncheon hosted by ADC on Capitol Hill.  Attendees will then meet with their members of Congress, followed by a fundraising reception with guest speaker Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE). 

Concluding the first night will be a Gala Banquet with featured speaker Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), ending with an exclusive performance featuring international singer Chantal Chamandy.

 

Day 2

Saturday’s activities begin with a workshop about getting involved in US politics, a panel discussion on the Iraq War, and a panel discussion on US foreign policy in the Middle East, featuring Dalia Mogahed from the Gallup Organization, who will discuss the most extensive poll ever conducted on the attitudes and perceptions of Muslims around the world. 

The first of several cultural events will be a panel with Arab American authors, and a screening of the film “A Dream in Doubt,” with filmmakers Tami R. Yeager and Preetmohan Singh. 

Other panels include “Iraq War: The Human Tragedy,” “The Role of Police,” a domestic policy panel concerning immigration enforcement and civil liberties featuring officials from the Police Foundation, the National Council of La Raza, and the Asian American Justice Center, and a discussion covering recent events in Darfur. 

ADC will then host the annual Civil Rights Awards Luncheon, “The Legacy of MLK & RFK: 40 Years Later,” with keynote speaker US House Judiciary Committee Chairman Hon. John Conyers (D-MI), from 12:30 to 2pm.

Saturday afternoon convention highlights include a screening of “Arna’s Children” and a discussion with the filmmakers. 

Foreign policy panel discussions cover “Pluralism and Sectarianism in the Arab World,” “Human Development in the Arab World,” and the Palestinian Diaspora. 

Domestic policy panels include “The Impact of US Policy on Global Civil Rights,” with expert speakers from Canada, Poland and France, and “Youth and College Campus Activism” dealing with the recent controversies facing Arab American youth such as “Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week.” 

Nader

Saturday’s events conclude with a Banquet featuring speakers and presenters including presidential candidate Ralph Nader, and HE Clovis Maksoud.

Day 3

Sunday’s events begin with a film screening and discussion of “Knowledge is the Beginning” with Mariam Said. 

ADC will also host a conversation with award winning journalist Dave Marash. 

Panels will include “From the Victim’s Mouth” where individuals will speak of their experiences facing discrimination and how ADC assisted them as well as a panel entitled, “The White House 2009: Predictions and Implications,” featuring Fritz Wenzel from Zogby International and other experts. 

Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi

The Sunday Luncheon entitled “Palestine: 60 Years of Dispossession” rounds out this year’s convention with keynote speaker and Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi.  

A detailed, updated program with confirmed and invited panelists and speakers can be viewed at http://www.adc.org/PDF/convsched08.pdf