James Zogby, 'When you block a mosque in Murfreesboro, Tenn., you put Middle East lives at risk, America at risk,'

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"Panelists include Grover Norquist "...

10/4/11, "2011 National Leadership Conference: A Call to Action," National Network for Arab American Communities partners with Arab American Institute for conference

Dearborn, Mich.: "Last weekend’s 10^th Annual National Leadership Conference sparked a new enthusiasm to push for real change, a theme that carried throughout this year’s convention....

In attendance were Hassan Jaber, executive director of ACCESS, the parent organization of NNAAC, and James Zogby, president of AAI, as well as leaders and staff members of Arab American organizations from 15 states and members of the local Arab American community....

Other workshops focused on how to build organizational strength and capacity, as well as the social and political climate in the United States as the nation heads into 2012 presidential elections. Wajahat Ali, attorney and principal author of Fear Inc.: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America, stressed the importance of helping all Americans become more familiar with Islam and Arab American culture....

“When people have arisen demanding their rights and demanding to be recognized, they began to matter,” AAI President James Zogby said. “Tell people when you block a mosque in Murfreesboro (Tennessee), you put lives in the Middle East at risk. You put America at risk. When you profile at the airports, you sully the reputation of our country and you put us at risk. All of these things are linked and

• we’re the voice that can ultimately make the connection.”"

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9/30/11, "Arab conference drawing leaders to Detroit," AP, via ABC News Detroit

"More than 200 Arab-American leaders are expected to gather in Detroit for a 3-day conference that includes discussions about Islamophobia, national security and the 2012 elections.

The 10th annual National Leadership Conference kicks off Friday. Panelists include Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, Ali Noorani of the National Immigration Forum,

• and Democratic Arizona state Rep. Matt Heinz."...

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