Over 60 Jewish, Muslim and Arab-American groups call for insurance company to withdraw offensive statement
The Arab American Civic Council today joined an interfaith coalition of civil and human rights organizations to condemn the insurance company GEICO for cancelling its plans to host an event celebrating National Arab-American Heritage Month and for publicly attacking its invited speaker, Arab American community activist Linda Sarsour.
After GEICO announced that Sarsour was scheduled to speak at an event celebrating Middle Eastern and North African history, anti-Palestinian organizations attacked both Sarsour and the company, which then cancelled the entire event and accused Sarsour of practicing “hate” and “exclusion.”
In a joint statement, over 60 civil and human rights organizations said:
“We strongly condemn GEICO for bowing down to anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate groups, canceling an event meant to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month and smearing one of our nation’s most prominent and impactful activists.”GEICO must immediately delete its false, defamatory and unacceptable attack on Linda Sarsour, who has vocally advocated for justice for all people and repeatedly fought against Islamophobia, antisemitism, xenophobia, and all other forms of hatred.”GEICO’s defamatory attack on Linda Sarsour is an attack on all Americans who dare to criticize the Israeli government and other human rights violators. If GEICO refuses to delete its hateful post and apologize for canceling its Arab American Heritage Month event, everyone who supports human rights for all people should avoid collaborating with this company or insuring with this company.”
Signing Organizations
Al-Ansar Center
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
American Muslim Bar Association
American Muslim Empowerment Network (AMEN)
Arab American Association of New York
Arab American Civic Council
Armenian-American Action Network
Central Valley Islamic Council
Coalition for Civil Freedoms
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Faith in Black Lives
Free Uyghur Now
Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno
Islamophobia Studies Center
Jahajee Sisters
Jetpac Resource Center
Jewish Voice for Peace
Jews Against Anti-Muslim Racism
Jews for Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ)
Jews Say No!
Mogahed Consulting, LLC
MPower Change
Muslim Caucus Education Initiative
Muslim Democratic Club of NY
National Iranian American Council
Nordix Computer Corp
Pillars of the Community
Poligon Education Fund
Project South
Revolutionary Love Project
South Bay Islamic Association
South Florida Muslim Federation
The Gathering for Justice
Until Freedom
US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO)
