Support the MENA Category on the U.S. Census + more

The Weeks Ahead 

Nationwide:

• Jan. 19 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President’s national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems. Click here to find community service projects in your area.

California:

• Jan. 15 at 6:30PM in Los Angeles, CA. CODEPINK is mobilizing a community presence at the LAPD public hearings on the police use of body cams as a response to the public outcry against police brutality. Click here for details. 

• Jan. 16 at 2:00PM to Jan. 18 at 5PM in Los Angeles, CA. The Muslim Student Association (MSA) West presents its 17th Annual Conference at UCLA. Click here for details. 

• Jan. 17 at 8:00PM in Los Angeles, CA. The Network of Arab American Professionals hosts a mixer for an evening of business networking and meaningful conversations. Click here for details.

Michigan:

• January 31, 2015 is the deadline to apply for ADC-Michigan’s Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Program. Click here for details. 

New York/ New Jersey:

• Sun. Jan. 18 at 8:00PM in New York, NY. “The Big Brown Comedy Hour” is back for the Freedom of Expression Benefit show, featuring NYC’s top Arab, Indian, Iranian, Pakistani, and other “Brown” comedians. Click here for details. 

Past Week’s Wrap-Up

• ADC Demands Accountability for NAACP Office Bombing

• Help our Community be Counted: Support the MENA Category on the U.S. Census

• DHS Announces Redesignation and Extension of TPS for Syrian Nationals 

Articles of Interest

• Muslims in the news only when they’re behind the gun [Al Jazeera]

• Dennis Ross, Stop Blaming the Palestinians [Huffington Post]

• Schools’ Civil Rights Obligations to English Learner Students and Limited English Proficient Parents [Office for Civil Rights]

• Staten Island Judge Will Hear Arguments About Releasing Eric Garner Documents [BuzzFeed]

• FBI offers reward in NAACP bombing investigation [MSNBC]

In Memoriam

Ahmed Merabet

Arab-Frenchman Ahmed Merabet, 42, was first police officer on the scene of Wednesday’s terrorist attack in Paris. 

Mr. Merabet’s brother spoke out against Islamaphobia and anti-Semitism at a press conference: “My brother was a Muslim and he was killed by people pretending to be Muslims. They are terrorists – that’s it.”

Dyab Abou Jahjah @Aboujahjah

I am not Charlie, I am Ahmed the dead cop. Charlie ridiculed my faith and culture and I died defending his right to do so. #JeSuisAhmed

Mach Mining v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Oral arguments heard by the Supreme Court of the United States on Jan. 13, 2015.