2010 Board Resolutions
ADC Board Resolutions
June 2010
1. Whereas ADC is a founding executive committee member of the Rights Working Group (RWG) and an active Executive Committee member of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; and whereas ADC together with those coalitions has actively sought termination of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) and the fair resolution of NSEERS-related cases and residual harms through passage of appropriate legislation and administrative remedies; be it resolved that a) ADC will advocate the fair resolution of all immigration and law enforcement cases that have used or will use NSEERS as the sole reason for deportation or law enforcement as enumerated by appropriate legislation and administrative commitments, b) ADC will continue to call for the termination of NSEERS and its related regulations, and c) ADC will advocate for the elimination of programs that target people based on ethnic origin, race, nationality, religion and/or gender.
2. Whereas approximately 25 years have passed since the terrorist attack on ADC‘s West Coast office and the assassination of its regional director, Alex Odeh; be it resolved that ADC will continue its efforts to compel our government to bring the perpetrators of this terrorist act to justice.
3. Whereas ADC has been at the forefront of organizations raising concerns and challenging the sweeping surveillance powers and broad authority to gather public records under the USA PATRIOT Act; and whereas ADC called on Congress to terminate the sunset provisions that were due to expire on December 31, 2009; and whereas Congress moved to reauthorize these provisions for another year, be it resolved that a) ADC will be calling on Congress to amend the national security letter statute, b) ADC will advocate for the removal of the government’s authorization to collect information from libraries and booksellers that personally identify patrons or customers, and c) ADC will advocate that the “material support” provision be amended so that individuals or charities providing humanitarian assistance in good faith to people in conflict areas are not prosecuted, but instead have those who actually have the intention to support terrorist-related or oriented activities prosecuted.
4. Whereas ADC has been an active member of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and Human Rights and instrumental in supporting post-September 11 related changes to the proposed End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA); and whereas ADC has identified and reported numerous incidents of racial or ethnic profiling targeting the Arab-American community by law enforcement agencies; and whereas the present Administration has repeatedly maintained that it is against the use of racial profiling; be it resolved that ADC will continue its efforts, working with The Leadership Conference coalition partners including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), and the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), among others, to support the passage of ERPA during this Congressional session.
5. Whereas ADC is a key partner with the National Immigration Forum and its Comprehensive Immigration Reform Campaign; and whereas ADC strongly supports comprehensive, realistic and balanced immigration reform to fix our nation‘s broken immigration system in a way that is respectful of the rule of law as well as the rights of immigrants and others living within the United States; and whereas ADC believes that American immigration policies should be enforceable, enhance security, promote citizenship and civic participation, reunite families, and bring immigrants out of the shadows; and whereas ADC strongly supports a balanced immigration policy that strengthens due process rights of immigrants, maintains restraints on the government‘s detention powers, and provides safe and legal alternatives for the many immigrants that arrive in this country each year to meet the needs of American employers; and whereas ADC opposes harsh enforcement-only immigration bills that are unrealistic and undermine immigrants‘ rights through increased detention and deportation; be it resolved that a) ADC will urge our government to adopt realistic, balanced and comprehensive immigration reform that creates safe and legal channels for immigrants to arrive in the country while providing new fair and just pathways to citizenship for immigrants already here, and b) that ADC will continue to strongly oppose, and will urge the government to oppose, the continued building of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
6. Whereas ADC strongly believes that the Israeli occupation of Arab territories has fomented ongoing unrest in the Middle East; and whereas such occupation is contrary to international law; and whereas U.S. interests in the Arab world would be better served if the United States were an objective and consistent supporter of the rule of law and international legitimacy; be it resolved that ADC calls on our government to use its considerable influence to require the Israeli government to withdraw immediately from all occupied Arab territories in compliance with international law and United Nations resolutions.
7. Whereas ADC has condemned all atrocities and acts of war committed by Israel against Palestinian people especially in Gaza, which have caused thousands of casualties and untold destruction in infrastructure and means of livelihood of innocent civilians; and whereas many such illegal acts have been committed by weapons provided to Israel by the U.S. Government that have caused further alienation against the U.S., thus jeopardizing the U.S. interest in the Arab world; be it resolved that ADC calls upon the United States Government to end all military assistance to Israel pursuant to U.S. law as expressed in the U.S. Arms Export Control Act.
8. Whereas the people of Gaza, especially innocent civilians, continue to suffer from the illegal siege imposed upon them; be it resolved that ADC calls on our government to take immediate measures to cause the State of Israel to end the suffering in Gaza by lifting the siege and [ allowing Egypt to do the same] permitting the resumption of international assistance, convening a high-level international conference to re-establish aid delivery and financial transactions in Gaza, and rebuilding of educational institutions specifically the American International School.
9. Whereas ADC believes the blind support the U.S. gives to Israel and shielding it from international accountability have encouraged Israel to further commit crimes of war and crimes against humanity, as evidenced in its 2008-2009 war against Palestinians in Gaza and its bloody assault on the high seas against the boats of the mercy mission carrying humanitarian assistance to the victims of the illegal siege of Gaza, be it resolved that ADC calls on our government to join other members of the international community in supporting action by the UN Security Council, as recommended by the Goldstone Report, regarding the international crimes committed by Israel in its war of 2008-2009 against the people of Gaza, and an international inquiry into the murders committed by Israel in international waters on the boat carrying humanitarian relief to the victims of the illegal siege of Gaza.
10. Whereas ADC is committed to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East; and whereas any peaceful resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict requires: The dismantlement of the Israeli Wall which was declared illegal by the International Court of Justice, the highest authority in international law, the cessation and dismantlement of all settlements, an end to the collective punishment imposed on the Palestinian population as a result of Israeli occupation policies as well as respect for the exercise of democratic rights of Palestinians in electing their government, the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state, and the upholding of the right of return of the Palestinian refugees under international law; be it resolved that ADC will continue to advocate the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination in an independent and fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
11. Whereas ADC condemns extremism, terrorism, and all acts of violence against innocent civilians whether committed by states, groups or individuals; and whereas ADC believes that the eradication of extremism and terrorism requires a comprehensive approach taking into account the root causes of such acts; and whereas ADC strongly believes that effective counter-terrorism efforts must include undertakings to address injustices that breed desperation and the breakdown of security; be it resolved that ADC will urge our government to take a more comprehensive approach to fighting extremism and terrorism which includes adopting a fair and even-handed foreign policy towards the Middle East.
12. Whereas ADC commends President Obama on his withdrawal timetable in Iraq and commitment to maintaining the integrity and the security of the country; whereas ADC strongly believes that the Iraq war and subsequent U.S. occupation brought increasing alienation against the U.S. and its citizens in the Arab and predominately Muslim countries; be it resolved that ADC is committed to continued support of policies that will bring about stability in Iraq and put an end to the suffering and displacement of the Iraqi people.
13. Whereas ADC believes that the U.S. war against Iraq and the chaos and insecurity that has ensued from the U.S. occupation have caused the displacement of millions of Iraqis who became refugees either in neighboring countries or internally displaced within Iraq; and, whereas ADC believes that U.S. bears legal and moral responsibility for the pain and suffering that such Iraqi refugees endure; be it resolved that ADC calls on the U.S. government to provide the necessary and appropriate levels of assistance, financial and otherwise, that would reduce the pain and suffering of such refugees including putting any pressure on Iraqi authorities to create an environment that would facilitate their safe return to their homes and towns. ADC also calls on the U.S. government for increased bilateral assistance to countries hosting Iraqi refugees, in particular Jordan and Syria.
