Dear friends/family,

On November 19, the House of Representative passed a bill (H.R. 4038) that would effectively bar Syrian and Iraqi refugees from entering the country. This was one of the many public examples of the recent, recurring Islamophobic, Arabphobic, and xenophobic attacks against the Muslim members of our community. 

In light of these events, we are organizing a rally to express our solidarity with Syrian and Iraqi migrants who are seeking refuge in the United States. The right to seek refuge (or asylum) in another country is an enshrined human right under international law. #HRTrumpsOppression#StandUp4Syrians #StandUp4Iraqis

Media Advisory: tiny.cc/HRTrumpsOppression

On International Human Rights Day, December 10, 2015, we will be gathering for a rally:

DATE: December 10, 2015
TIME: 5:00pm EST
LOCATION: Columbus Circle by Trump Towers

We recognize that the United States is complicit in the human rights abuses across the Middle East and North Africa. We also recognize that the Assad dictatorship is responsible for the vast majority of civilian deaths in Syria, and is engaged in documented torture and imprisonment of tens of thousands of its citizens. We stand in solidarity with the popular movements which rise up against any repressive government. 

We also recognize that the United States bears primary responsibility for the deteriorating situation in Iraq dating back to the 1990s Gulf War and exacerbated by the global ‘War on Terror’. 

At present, the US government has agreed to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees. This is not enough. We demand that the US government accept more refugees from Syria and Iraq and to provide adequate resources and social services to these newly resettled migrants. Further, we demand that the US and all other governments cease their interventions in the Middle East and North Africa and their support of human rights abuses by repressive regimes.