The Arab American Institute (AAI) is a non-profit membership organization that advocates for the interests of Arab-Americans. Founded in 1985 by James Zogby, the brother of pollster John Zogby, the organization is based in Washington, D.C.
The organization seeks to increase the visibility of Arab-American involvement and candidates in the American political system. It issues "Action Alerts" to its members much like the Anti-Defamation League when issues of particular concern arise. According to its website the organization develops policy initiatives much in the manner of a think tank and encourages its members to contact Members of Congress.
The AAI has been designated by the United States Census Bureau as the only Census Information Center for compiling data on Arab-Americans. Limitations of the sampling methodology, combined with non-response by some, under-response (only two ethnic backgrounds are tabulated and reported), and reporting ancestry as race, results in higher under reporting among Arab Americans. While the 2000 Census accounted for some 1,250,000 persons who self-identify with an Arabic-speaking origin, AAI estimates (based on research done by the Zogby International polling and marketing firm) place the population at more than 3,500,000. They live in all 50 states—the top 11 by population are (in descending order):
Two-thirds reside in 10 states; one-third of the total live in California, New York, and Michigan. About 94% live in metropolitan areas; Los Angeles, Detroit, New York City, Chicago and Washington, D.C., are the top 5 US metro-areas of Arab-American concentration. Lebanese-Americans constitute a greater part of the total number of Arab-Americans residing in most states; however, in New Jersey, Egyptian-Americans are the largest Arab group. The AAI believes that Americans of Arab ethnicity were underrepresented in the 2000 National Census as are most "other ethnic, minority, and immigrant populations" and believes that this undercount occurs because many Arab-Americans simply "do not understand the relevance of the census, its confidentiality, or did not respond to the question on the sample 'long form' that measures ethnic ancestry".[citation needed]
In July 2006, during the 2006 Lebanon War, Patrick Syring left three voice mails and sent four emails to the headquarters office of the Arab American Institute. A Federal Grand Jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment on August 15, 2007, charging Syring with violation of Title 18 of the United States Code, Section 875(c), threatening messages in interstate commerce to injure an individual, and violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 245(b)(2)(C), by threat of force or use of force, to interfere with the civil rights of the founder and employees of the Arab American Institute. Syring pleaded guilty to the charges June 12, 2008, was sentenced to prison July 11, 2008, and was released in January 2009.[1][2][3]
In 2001, the Coalition of American Assyrians and Maronites rebuked the Arab American Institute in a letter for categorizing Maronite Christians and Assyrians as Arabs.[4][5]
Politics
In November 2008, the Arab American Institute sent a letter to Democratic Senate majority leader Harry Reid, as part of a failed attempt to block the reappointment of Senator Joe Lieberman to the chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The letter cited in particular a report on Islamist extremism and the "Homegrown Terrorist Threat" completed by the committee under Lieberman's chairmanship in May 2008.[6]
^. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
^"Former Foreign Service Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges". U.S. Department of Justice. 2008-06-12. from the original on June 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
^Schudel, Matt (2008-12-07). "Former U.S. diplomat gets year in prison for anti-Arab remarks". Reuters. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
^Lewis, J. L. (Summer 2003). "Iraqi Assyrians: Barometer of Pluralism". Middle East Quarterly: 49–57. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
^Coalition of American Assyrians and Maronites Rebukes Arab American Institute, AINA.org
arab, american, institute, profit, membership, organization, that, advocates, interests, arab, americans, founded, 1985, james, zogby, brother, pollster, john, zogby, organization, based, washington, formation1986founderjames, zogbytypenon, profit, advocacy, o. The Arab American Institute AAI is a non profit membership organization that advocates for the interests of Arab Americans Founded in 1985 by James Zogby the brother of pollster John Zogby the organization is based in Washington D C Arab American InstituteFormation1986FounderJames ZogbyTypeNon profit advocacy organizationHeadquartersWashington D C PresidentJames ZogbyWebsitehttps www aaiusa org The organization seeks to increase the visibility of Arab American involvement and candidates in the American political system It issues Action Alerts to its members much like the Anti Defamation League when issues of particular concern arise According to its website the organization develops policy initiatives much in the manner of a think tank and encourages its members to contact Members of Congress Contents 1 Activities 1 1 Arab American Census 1 2 Anti Arabism 2 Politics 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksActivitiesArab American Census Main article Arab American The AAI has been designated by the United States Census Bureau as the only Census Information Center for compiling data on Arab Americans Limitations of the sampling methodology combined with non response by some under response only two ethnic backgrounds are tabulated and reported and reporting ancestry as race results in higher under reporting among Arab Americans While the 2000 Census accounted for some 1 250 000 persons who self identify with an Arabic speaking origin AAI estimates based on research done by the Zogby International polling and marketing firm place the population at more than 3 500 000 They live in all 50 states the top 11 by population are in descending order California 715 000 Michigan 490 000 New York 405 000 Florida 255 000 New Jersey 240 000 Illinois 220 000 Texas 210 000 Ohio 185 000 Massachusetts 175 000 Pennsylvania 160 000 Virginia 135 000 Two thirds reside in 10 states one third of the total live in California New York and Michigan About 94 live in metropolitan areas Los Angeles Detroit New York City Chicago and Washington D C are the top 5 US metro areas of Arab American concentration Lebanese Americans constitute a greater part of the total number of Arab Americans residing in most states however in New Jersey Egyptian Americans are the largest Arab group The AAI believes that Americans of Arab ethnicity were underrepresented in the 2000 National Census as are most other ethnic minority and immigrant populations and believes that this undercount occurs because many Arab Americans simply do not understand the relevance of the census its confidentiality or did not respond to the question on the sample long form that measures ethnic ancestry citation needed Anti Arabism Main article Anti Arabism In July 2006 during the 2006 Lebanon War Patrick Syring left three voice mails and sent four emails to the headquarters office of the Arab American Institute A Federal Grand Jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment on August 15 2007 charging Syring with violation of Title 18 of the United States Code Section 875 c threatening messages in interstate commerce to injure an individual and violation of Title 18 United States Code Section 245 b 2 C by threat of force or use of force to interfere with the civil rights of the founder and employees of the Arab American Institute Syring pleaded guilty to the charges June 12 2008 was sentenced to prison July 11 2008 and was released in January 2009 1 2 3 In 2001 the Coalition of American Assyrians and Maronites rebuked the Arab American Institute in a letter for categorizing Maronite Christians and Assyrians as Arabs 4 5 PoliticsIn November 2008 the Arab American Institute sent a letter to Democratic Senate majority leader Harry Reid as part of a failed attempt to block the reappointment of Senator Joe Lieberman to the chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee The letter cited in particular a report on Islamist extremism and the Homegrown Terrorist Threat completed by the committee under Lieberman s chairmanship in May 2008 6 See alsoArab lobby in the United States American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee Council on American Islamic Relations Arab BarometerReferences Inmate Locator Archived from the original on 2012 03 10 Retrieved 2009 06 22 Former Foreign Service Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges U S Department of Justice 2008 06 12 Archived from the original on June 29 2009 Retrieved 2009 06 15 Schudel Matt 2008 12 07 Former U S diplomat gets year in prison for anti Arab remarks Reuters Retrieved 2009 06 15 Lewis J L Summer 2003 Iraqi Assyrians Barometer of Pluralism Middle East Quarterly 49 57 Retrieved November 16 2011 Coalition of American Assyrians and Maronites Rebukes Arab American Institute AINA org Lieberman retains committee chairmanship Jewish Telegraph Agency JTA November 18 2008 External linksArab American Institute Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arab American Institute amp oldid 1223219266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
