Snubbing Bloomberg

Here's an interesting article from our friends at Illume Magazine, written by community activist Linda Sarsour, President of the Arab-American Association of New York. She explains why she decided to skip an interfaith breakfast she was invited to by Mayor Bloomberg.

Sarsour has had many conversations with high-ranking NYPD officials regarding the treatment of Muslim-Americans in the area, especially in light of the recent "mosque surveillance" allegations. She demanded answers and was told she would get them. After months of promises, she still has not gotten any.

What do you think...should she have skipped the breakfast? Should she have showed up and given a piece of her mind?

Share your thoughts with me in the Comments section below!

The Moroccan American House Association: Serving all of Bay Ridge

The Moroccan American House Association

is a Bay Ridge, Brooklyn-based organization dedicated to solving issues in the Moroccan community as well as the neighborhood as a whole.

“It was created to get all the Moroccans together and solve problems, whether it be the death of a person, someone who is sick or lost a job,” explained Adil Oualim, president of the Association. “Our mission is very clear: we want to coordinate with other communities in Brooklyn and have a better Moroccan community.”

Although Moroccans are a well-established community in Bay Ridge, they are considered “new immigrants” as a whole, since most of the population came to the U.S. in the early 1990s, Oualim said. Their issues are the same as anyone else’s.

“Most of them are social,” Oualim said. The Association helps those in the community who need it get access to proper health care, food stamps and immigration services. They also give domestic violence support.

Oualim added that the Arab American Association of New York helps him provide the community with these services.

The Association is actively involved in the greater Bay Ridge community participating in events such as “It’s My Park Day”, which took place in October and was sponsored by the New York City Parks Department.

On My Street: A Photo Essay of Manhattan's Washington Street Mideast Neighborhood

At the turn of the 19th Century, Washington Street in Lower Manhattan was a thriving Arab thoroughfare called Little Syria. The neighborhood was home to Syrian and Lebanese immigrants, who brought delicacies from home to trade in their new country.

In the 1940s, most of the street was demolished to make way for the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Then in the 1960s, what was left was bulldozed again to erect the World Trade Center.

Today, about three buildings from the time of Little Syria still stand on Washington Street. But unfortunately, they are about to be torn down to make way for high-end apartments and stores.

Egyptian American Community Foundation Opens Brooklyn Office

The Egyptian American Community Foundation has been around for nearly a decade, supporting humanitarian and social incentives both in Egypt and in New York City. This summer, the Foundation, which is a non-profit, opened an office in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn because it wanted to focus on community serviced based work. Bay Ridge is home to a large Arab-American community. Its top three demographics are Egyptian, Yemeni, and Moroccan.

“Previously, we were based on fundraising, we worked a lot with Habitat for Humanity and did a lot of things overseas in Egypt rather than in the community itself,” explained Asmi Fathelbab, who works out of the Bay Ridge office.

“People are always under the assumption that the [Bay Ridge] population is Palestinian, but it’s really not,” Fathelbab said, adding that the Egyptian community has been established for quite some time, but some members are still adjusting. The Foundation offers a plethora of services to all communities in the neighborhood. It’s goal is to help new immigrants get acclimated with their new society and offer them services that even many American-born people do not know how to acquire, such as immigration lawyers, tax help or where to get food stamps.

It is currently looking for ESL tutors and hopes to have an Arabic class on weekends in the near future. About 20 children signed up for the after-school program in about three days. Every afternoon, the students sit down at the same table, do their homework together and receive help when needed.

“Lots of the children just came from Egypt, but lots have been to school in Syria as well,” explained Karim Aly, who also works out of the Brooklyn office. “But this is open to Arabs and non-Arabs. If you walk in, we will help you. We don’t turn anyone away.”

El Sultan: Serving up Turkish Delights in Brooklyn

It usually takes most restaurant owners a year to decide whether or not their spot will be a success. But that has not been the case for Ashraf Gabralla’s restaurant, El Sultan, located in the heart of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.

“I can’t ask for more than this,” Gabralla said. “Business has been good. After four months I am satisfied.”

Gabralla, who is from Egypt, has been living in the U.S. for 16 years. He decided to open up a Turkish restaurant this spring.

“I know the stuff cooked on the grill is healthy. People like it, it’s not fried,” he explained. “The Turkish recipes are also delicious.”

Bronx Interfaith Non-Profit in Danger of Closing

Nurah Ama’tullah founded the Muslim Women’s Institute for Research and Development back in 1997 as a way to serve the Bronx’s interfaith immigrant community. Since then, the community non-profit has striven to provide the under-serviced community with aid when it comes to issues like hunger, health and transition into this new society.

Southwest Brooklyn Bands Together at Annual Unity Task Force Breakfast

The Bay Ridge Unity Task Force celebrated the holiday season with its annual breakfast on December 9 at the Bay Ridge Jewish Center.

The Unity Task Force was formed eleven years ago by a group of civic and religious leaders to promote tolerance within this multi-ethnic community, which is home to Muslims, Christians, Jews, and Baha’is. Pastor Khader El-Yateem of the Arabic Lutheran Church, community activist Larry Morrish, Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello and State Senator Marty Golden are just some of the founders.

Huge Rally Planned in NYC to Protest Muslim Profiling by Police and FBI

On Friday November 18, New York City’s American Muslim citizens will come together for a rally and public prayer to raise awareness of NYPD/CIA repression of their communities.

The rally is being organized by the New York Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the Islamic Leadership Council of Metropolitan New York, The Arab Muslim American Federation and Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM). Although the exact logistics are not yet worked out, the day will start at 12p.m. with a few different events. The ensuing marches will depart from City Hall, from Occupy Wall Street headquarters in Zuccotti Park, and from different mosques in the area, with everyone eventually gathering at Foley Square, where there will be a public Friday prayer, a few speakers, and then a final march to One Police Plaza.

The purpose of the rally was spelled out in a flier for the event. The demonstrators seek “An immediate end to all racist, ethnic and religious profiling. The dismantlement and disclosure of all surveillance operations. An independent commission to investigate all NYPD and CIA operations against the Muslim community. The immediate protection of our right to freedom of worship, free speech and free association. The equal protection, under the law, of Muslims and all people of New York.”

“I felt like [the rally] was an absolute necessity,” said Cyrus McGoldrick, civil rights manager for CAIR-NY. “We needed a grassroots movement to put more pressure on law enforcement,” he explained. “The policies of the NYPD have the effect of silencing and disempowering people. Hopefully this will jump start a Muslim movement to stand up for themselves.”

Ibn’Arabi & Rumi Conference Draws Global Audience in NYC

This past weekend, Sufi mysticism enthusiasts gathered at the New York Open Center in Manhattan on a crisp, autumn morning to analyze and discuss the works of Ibn’Arabi and Rumi, and their relationship to each other.

The conference, sponsored by the Open Center and the Muhyiddin Ibn’Arabi Society, lasted two days and explained in great detail many facets of some legendary works. People came from as far as Norway and Australia to learn more about the Sufi poets.

Margaret Goertzed came all the way from Vancouver. “It’s kind of a new thing for me – I was introduced to it (Sufi poetry) at another event at the Open Center,” she said. “I got so intrigued about everything I don’t know about the Middle East. It’s knowledge, philosophy and the romance of the era attracted me.”

Freedom Square NYC: Middle Eastern Solidarity

On Tuesday September 20, 2011, hundreds gathered in Dag Hammerskjold Plaza, adjacent to the United Nations building. Despite the dreary weather, New Yorkers of Iranian, Libyan, Yemeni, Syrian, Egyptian, Palestinian and Tunisian descent came together to form “Freedom Square NYC,” the ultimate protest against oppressive dictatorial regimes.

Organized by a handful of human rights groups that share a common cause of fighting for freedom, democracy and social justice, these activists joined in protest of the G8 Summit, which was in session across the street at the United Nations offices, stressing that the voice of ordinary citizens needed to be heard as the Arab Spring continues to rage in the Middle East.

“Many of our groups have been inspired by the people of the region and hope to demonstrate our solidarity in the pursuit of their fundamental rights and democratic aspirations,” Bitta Mostofi, an Iranian-American living in New York City, who co-organized the event, told Aslan Media. “We call on the international community to uphold the people’s demand for accountability and call for an end to the violent crackdowns on demonstrators and ordinary people.”