Arab-American Group Causes Controversy Over Convention Performance

With the Arab Spring sweeping the Middle East and drawing millions into the streets to demand a change of leadership, Arab-Americans staged their own mini-revolution, calling for the resignation of the leaders of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee.<br>
The controversy stems from a decision by the ADC--one of the nation's oldest Arab-American civil rights groups--to cancel a performance by Syrian-born pianist Malek Jandali at the the group's national convention last weekend. <br>
The convention was supposed to focus on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, social networking, and the Arab Spring. Instead, ADC leaders spent much of the convention defending their decision to cancel Jandali's performance. Some who had registered to attend the event boycotted because of the musician's removal. <br>
The group announced in a <a href="https://www.adc.org/media/press-releases/2011/june-2011/statement-regarding-malek-jandali-and-the-adc-convention/"&gt; press release </a> last week that Syrian-born pianist Jandali would not perform at the convention, citing logistical issues. <br>
But according to a report by Al-Arabiya, an Arabic language television news channel, the ADC asked the musician, who had planned to play a freedom song "Watani Ana" (I am my Homeland), to "tone it down." <br>
Jandali refused.<br>
The committee's decision stirred a whirlwind of criticism after prominent Arab activists caught word. They said the organization's decision went against the ADC's core mission—"defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage." <br>
"It is incumbent upon … the organization to be unequivocal in its support for basic principles of civil liberties of political freedoms and human rights," Samer Shehata, a professor at Georgetown University, said during a panel Saturday. "And the press release didn't do that, I am afraid to say."<br>
ADC released a <a href="https://www.adc.org/media/press-releases/2011/june-2011/adc-to-open-tonights-gala-with-watani-ana/"&gt; statement </a> Saturday morning saying it regretted "the series of events that led to the cancellation of Mr. Jandali's performance" and would play the "Watani Ana" music video at the Saturday night gala. <br>
"We hope that by playing the song, with its powerful message of freedom, that we will address the valid concerns of many in the Arab-American community," the statement said. <br>
But that didn't satisfy some activists. They jumped on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites to continue to call for the resignation of Ray Hanania, a member of the ADC board of directors and Safa Rifka, the organization's national board chair.
 
Linda Sarsour, director of the Arab American Association of New York, tweeted about the events, condemning the ADC for its actions. <br>
"While our Arab sistas n brothers in the ME r demanding regime changes, I say we here in USA should demand regime change of @ADCtweets," she wrote. <br>
Over 600 Arab-Americans signed a petition calling for the resignation of Rifka and Hanania. Signatures include former ADC staff members, professionals, artists and prominent activists.<br>
"If there's a song about freedom that makes people uncomfortable, you don't disinvite the person who is singing about freedom, you disinvite those who are uncomfortable with freedom," comedian Dean Obeidallah said during a social networking panel.<br>
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Professor Shehata condemns ADC for its decision during a panel Saturday.<br>
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Vice Chair Assad responds to Shehata's remark. He blamed the insufficient press release about Janladi's performance on the organization's lack of resources and manpower. Assad also explains his personal relationship with Janladi. He says he apologized to the performer and tried to get him to reconsider playing at the gala.