Senator Chuck Hagel, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Clovis Maksoud, Mustafa Barghouti, Congressman John Conyers, Ralph Nader Will Address ADC Convention This Weekend
The American- Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is pleased to announce Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) will be the keynote speaker on Saturday, June 14, at the ADC Annual National Convention. The Convention will take place June 13-15, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel located at 1000 H Street in Washington, DC.
ADC will present Senator Hagel with the “Outstanding Public Service Award” for his more than forty years of dedicated service to the United States. Senator Hagel is Nebraska’s senior US Senator and he is well known for his insights on domestic and foreign policy. He is currently a member of four Senate committees: Foreign Relations; Banking; Housing and Urban Affairs; and Intelligence and Rules.
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. Concluding the first night will be a Gala Banquet with featured speaker Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), and ending with an exclusive performance featuring international singer Chantal Chamandy.
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 film screening of “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 the 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.’ Saturday’s events conclude with a Gala Banquet featuring guest speakers and presenters including presidential candidate Ralph Nader, HE Clovis Maksoud and Keynote speaker Senator Chuck Hagel among others.
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. 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.
For information or reservation contact organizing@adc.org or call (202)244-2990