Loading ...Arab-American and Pro-Palestine Activist Linda Sarsour to receive $500K from NYC awards
Linda Sarsour, who has emerged as a prominent Arab-American voice in recent years, will receive the money for her charity organization.
The Arab Association of New York was chosen as one of 14 groups by the “Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York” to receive US$10 million over the next five years, which will be invested in the integration of mental health services into their community programs.
Linda Sarsour, the association’s executive director and a prominent Palestinian, anti-racist and civil rights activist, received widespread attention last year when she was at the center of a Palestine-related Twitter clash with a U.S. legislator.
Sarsour posted a photograph of a Palestinian child throwing a stone at Israeli soldiers with a caption reading “the definition of courage.”
Rory Lancman, a councilman from Queens City, replied to the picture commenting: “No, the definition of barbarism.”
With his comment, Lancman initiated a long discussion that lasted a number of days and attracted the attention of many other racist and Islamophobic Twitter users.
In one tweet, Sarsour commented: “The Zionist trolls are out to play. Bring it. You will never silence me.”
Many have since criticized her supposed “anti-American,” “hate filled,” “Islamic supremacist” views, with some referring to her as “a supporter of Palestinian jihad.”
Linda, who is a supporter of Bernie Sanders and opened his rally in Wisconsin, has campaigned on various issues over the course of her career including the New York Police Department’s surveillance of Muslims, the Black Lives Matter Movement and migrant rights.
“Senator Sanders has welcomed all people into his campaign. I stand here before you unapologetically Muslim, unapologetically Palestinian-American, and unapologetically from Brooklyn New York,” Sarsour said during her opening speech.
“When I started supporting Bernie Sanders nobody told me ‘look, you can’t be too Muslim up there. Don’t bring up those Palestinians.’ They welcomed all of me. They have welcomed my community in a way that no other campaign has.”
Sarsour, who is a close ally of NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, has fought for Arab-Americans ever since she took over the Arab Association in 2005 after its former executive director was killed in a car crash. She has been described by the New York Times as “a potential – and rare Arab-American – candidate for office”.
Source: www.telesurtv.net