American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee

BACKGROUND:
ADC is receiving reports from Arab American parents that their children are feeling stress as a result of the U.S. bombing of Iraq. Children are waking up in the middle of the night to watch the news. Some are finding classmates hostile to Iraq and blaming Arab Americans for the actions of the Iraqi government.
ADC chapters, parents, activists and education committees should immediately contact school officials to take appropriate action to prevent harassment and to show support to Arab American students. Already some teachers are asking, "What can we do to support the Arab kids? Tell us what to do."
During the Gulf War, schools were caught up in the "yellow ribbon" fervor in support of the war. This created an atmosphere of intimidation in which Arab American students felt silenced and harassed.
ACTION
ADC activists in several school districts have already arranged for school district officials to send letters to school principals, teachers, and counselors advising them of this problem. Please call the Superintendent and Human Relations office (or Equity and Compliance offices in some cities) in your local school districts. Alert them to immediately notify all school staff:
Schools should take steps to sensitize non-Arab children and teenagers. Students should be brought to understand that Arab Americans, Arab people generally, and Iraqi civilians are not responsible for the actions of the Iraqi government. Bullying, teasing, or blaming Arab American students for political events in the Middle East must not be tolerated. Arab American families may have relatives and friends in Iraq who are endangered by the attack. The Pentagon estimated in November that an attack could result in 10,000 deaths. UN agencies estimate that hundreds of thousands of civilians, many of them children, have died of malnutrition and disease as a result of UN economic sanctions against Iraq. Saddam Hussein is not the only person in Iraq. There are some 22 million Iraqis.
Arab American children feel a cultural identity with the people of Iraq. Many are experiencing stress and anxiety. Even younger children see the news and are aware of what is happening. Teachers and counselors should be available to them and give them the opportunity to share their views and express their feelings. School staff should show support to these children.
ADC members should offer to speak to classes or assemblies about Arab Americans, the conflict with Iraq, or Islam. Ramadan also provides a good opportunity to be invited into the schools. For more information or advise, please contact Marvin Wingfield, ADC Director of Education and Outreach, at
(202) 244-2990

	17-December-98
	ARAB AMERICAN CHILDREN FEEL IMPACT OF ATTACK ON IRAQ
	Marvin Wingfield.... [Director of Education and Outreach]
	BACKGROUND: ADC is receiving reports from Arab American parents that their children are feeling stress as a result of the U.S. bombing of Iraq. Children are waking up in the middle of the night to watch the news. Some are finding classmates hostile to Iraq and blaming Arab Americans for the actions of the Iraqi government. ADC chapters, parents, activists and education committees should immediately contact school officials to take appropriate action to prevent harassment and to show support to Arab American students. Already some teachers are asking, "What can we do to support the Arab kids? Tell us what to do." During the Gulf War, schools were caught up in the "yellow ribbon" fervor in support of the war. This created an atmosphere of intimidation in which Arab American students felt silenced and harassed. ACTION ADC activists in several school districts have already arranged for school district officials to send letters to school principals, teachers, and counselors advising them of this problem. Please call the Superintendent and Human Relations office (or Equity and Compliance offices in some cities) in your local school districts. Alert them to immediately notify all school staff: Schools should take steps to sensitize non-Arab children and teenagers. Students should be brought to understand that Arab Americans, Arab people generally, and Iraqi civilians are not responsible for the actions of the Iraqi government. Bullying, teasing, or blaming Arab American students for political events in the Middle East must not be tolerated. Arab American families may have relatives and friends in Iraq who are endangered by the attack. The Pentagon estimated in November that an attack could result in 10,000 deaths. UN agencies estimate that hundreds of thousands of civilians, many of them children, have died of malnutrition and disease as a result of UN economic sanctions against Iraq. Saddam Hussein is not the only person in Iraq. There are some 22 million Iraqis. Arab American children feel a cultural identity with the people of Iraq. Many are experiencing stress and anxiety. Even younger children see the news and are aware of what is happening. Teachers and counselors should be available to them and give them the opportunity to share their views and express their feelings. School staff should show support to these children. ADC members should offer to speak to classes or assemblies about Arab Americans, the conflict with Iraq, or Islam. Ramadan also provides a good opportunity to be invited into the schools. For more information or advise, please contact Marvin Wingfield, ADC Director of Education and Outreach, at (202) 244-2990

17-December-98