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The i Word Campaign
People attack Arabs and Muslims and think they can get away with it. AWAAM produced t-shirts bearing the slogan "intifada NYC"; months later, the organization found itself at the receiving end of racist attacks against New York's first Arabic-language public school.
As AWAAM provides young women with opportunities to become active as community organizers and media producers, "intifada NYC" is a call for empowerment, service, civic participation and critical thinking in our communities: a 'shaking off' of discrimination and an embracing of our roles as producers rather objects of the mass media.
Actions
Do not be afraid. Intifida is an Arabic word that literally means "shaking off." It has also been used to represent peoples' struggles in the Arab world. So, re-evaluate your relationship with the word. Wear your intifada t-shirt with pride. If you don't have one email us. If you need a design custom made for your town or community, let us know.
Speak up and don't let Rupert Murdoch define or silence us. Stand up against racism, do not let anti-Arab and anti-Muslim attacks go unchallenged.
An Arabic School in Brooklyn
AWAAM has recently found itself at the receiving end of a right wing smear campaign targeting the Khalil Gibran International Academy, an Arabic language public school that recently opened in Brooklyn. These attacks culminated in the forced resignation of the school’s founding principal, Debbie Almonataser when opponents—who claim that the school will promote violence and terrorism—used an AWAAM t-shirt to criminalize her. While defending ourselves from slander, we are also at the forefront of coalition-based efforts to secure lasting support by our public officials for the school as its design team and its founding principal envisioned it, a place where our communities can learn and take leadership. AWAAM is working to ensure that the voices of women and girls who are Arab, Muslim and from communities of color are prominent in addressing this attack on our education.
Muslim Holidays in Public Schools
AWAAM works with the Coalition for Muslim School Holidays, a coalition of over 55 labor, religious, community and advocacy organizations working to put Muslim holidays on the New York City public school calendar out of a shared concern for students and families who are disadvantaged by the department of education's failure to provide them with equal access to religious accomodation.
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