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AROC joined a broad coalition of groups from the Arab American community calling on all Arabs to fill out the Census form and return it. The Census was used to encourage Arabs to assert their identity. Participants will engage in group discussions about Arab organizing on the Census and hear from organizers around the country about different campaigns. Panelists and small groups will answer the following questions:
•What benefits did your work on the Census provide for your communities? •How did the Census support your other campaign work or grassroots base-building? •What were the specific challenges in doing this kind of grassroots outreach in your local community? •What lessons did you learn about how one-on-one contact and canvassing can or cannot be useful for campaigns within the Arab community? How is this specific to your geographic location? •Would any of your campaigns or work benefit from more national organizing?
This workshop will provide space to share lessons learned from the Census campaign for those who are considering moving towards more base-building and campaign work. In the Bay Area there have been many instances where our community has come under unwarranted scrutiny and attack. These issues call for a much needed discussion of their symptoms, where to go from here. The most significant issues today are as follows:
•Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement backlash •Solidarity organizations co-opting certain events and establishments •Tensions between Arab students and other People of Color and Homosexual Peoples •Hate crimes against Arab Students •Police brutality and the arrest of Arab Youth •Racist comments by the SF Police Chief •Reestablishment of investigation unit re-established
We are interested in developing a taskforce designed to target the unique characteristics and needs of our communities to mobilize.
