Anti-Arab Violence
1986 Resolution of Immediate of Witness
WHEREAS, the Bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Association affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and justice, equity and compassion in human relations; andWHEREAS, this is a time of increasing deplorable acts of terrorism, world-wide and domestic; and
WHEREAS, one manifestation of fear about Middle-East related terrorism outside the United States has been growing acceptance of stereotyping, harassment and attacks against Arab-Americans; and
WHEREAS, the murder in California of Alex Odeh, US citizen of Palestinian origin, and American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee regional coordinator, in October 1985, represents but one visible example of senseless violence in a series of bombings in the District of Columbia, Massachusetts and California;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the UUA Board of Trustees publicly condemns all terrorism, international and domestic, and calls upon UUs to assist in ending the wave of anti-Arab racism that is spreading across the continent; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the UUA and US UUs support the US Civil Rights Commission investigation of the recent pattern of intimidation and violence against Arab-Americans as infringements of their civil and human rights; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the UUA and US UUs call upon the President of the United States to :
- Speak out clearly against the simplistic equation of terrorism with "Arab" in the United States; and
- Drop the newly announced federal policy of surveillance of groups and group members solely on the basis that they are believed to have contact with the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
Last updated on Tuesday, March 27, 2007.
