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Stand In Solidarity

Leaders of the Syrian Community Call on San Diegans to Demand an end to War in Syria

The Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans - PANA works to promote the fair treatment and equitable inclusion of refugee communities and to develop refugee leaders. The Syrian Family Council is strengthening the spirit of unity, solidarity, self-expression among Muslims and the larger community by providing community psychosocial and ethical support. The Palestinian Youth Movement San Diego works to build grassroots community-based organizing, addressing the needs of Arab communities, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), builds coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding with the broader community.

“We speak today with heavy hearts and a commitment to help raise awareness here in the United States of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, where the government has conducted an 9-day military campaign targeting the civilian population, which has already killed more than 500 people and injured thousands in Ghouta alone.”

Banah Ghadban, member of the Syrian Family Council

“We demand our elected officials to end imperialist intervention and focus their efforts on internal support and resources for the displaced refugees scattered throughout the US.”

Hatem Mohtaseb, Director of the local Palestinian Youth Movement.

"San Diego's refugee community is understandably profoundly traumatized, knowing that the civilians being targeted include family members, colleagues, friends and neighbors. It is shameful that despite the uptick in violence causing increased suffering to the Syrian people the U.S. government has chosen a policy that rejects the principles of diversity and inclusion that this country was founded on. The San Diego Union Tribune reported last week that because of President Trump's various refugee bans, the number of refugees resettling in San Diego County tumbled by 96% compared to last year, resettling only 40 refugees so far in fiscal year 2018.”

Ammar Kowkab, a Syrian refugee and community organizer at PANA.

“Our world has seen too many instances of innocent civilians being targeted by government forces to achieve political goals. International law calls for protections for unarmed civilians and forbids the targeted kind of attacks, indiscriminate killings, and forced displacement taking place in today's Syria. Groups providing humanitarian aid are not allowed inside the besieged area, leaving the population in nothing short of a death spiral.”

Hanif Mohebi, Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Diego Chapter

"Families like those who are speaking out today have experienced trauma in the homeland they were forced to leave, and now from afar, as a reign of terror descends on their loved ones. We refuse to be silent in the face of these atrocities and demand action to end the violence".

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The Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA) promotes the fair treatment and equitable inclusion of refugee communities using organizing to achieve collective impact and policy change. Founded in 2014, has been a powerful voice for refugees in San Diego, including leading efforts to create a powerful refugee voter participation block, & educating and advocating against recent anti-refugee legislation in congress.

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December 10

Human Rights Day of Action 2017

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June 26

#StandWithMuslims Day Of Action