Sarsour Returning Home to Receive Arab Association Award

posted on: Oct 23, 2017

SOURCE: BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE

BY: PAULA KATINAS

Linda Sarsour left her job as executive director of the Arab American Association of New York (AAANY) earlier this year to take on a larger role as a progressive activist on national issues, but she is returning to her roots next month for a special reason: She is coming back to accept an award from her former work colleagues.

Sarsour and other organizers of the Women’s March on Washington will be the guests of honor at the Arab American Association of New York’s 16th Annual Benefit Gala on Thursday, Nov. 9, at Widdi Caterers, 5602 Sixth Ave. in Sunset Park, starting at 6:30 p.m.

“As we reflect back on this tumultuous year, the Women’s March remains a source of pride and rejuvenation. The support of millions across the world was a testament to its inspiring cause, but as we celebrate our own participation, we would be remiss to forget that leadership counts. And so AAANY wishes to thank and honor the Women’s March National Co-Chairs Tamika D. Mallory, Carmen Perez, Bob Bland and of course our very own Linda Sarsour,” AAANY leaders said in a statement.

AAANY will also honor Khaled A. Beydoun, an associate professor at the University of Michigan Mercy School of Law, at the benefit gala.

The Women’s March on Washington, which took place on Jan. 21, the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated, drew an estimated 500,000 participants. Sister marches took place in cities all across the country in tandem with the Washington protest, attracting millions of demonstrators, making it the largest nationwide protests in history.

Sarsour said she is grateful to AAANY for launching her public career and is looking forward to the gala. “I am deeply humbled to be honored by an organization that has shaped the person I am today. I am even more thrilled that they are recognizing the leadership and power of my sisters at the Women’s March,” she told the Brooklyn Eagle in a text message.

In February, Sarsour, who had served as executive director of AAANY for 11 years, announced that she was leaving her post.

Calling the Women’s March “a watershed moment in modern American history,” AAANY leaders said it makes sense for the organization, which is located at 7111 Fifth Ave. in Bay Ridge and advocates on behalf of the rights of Arab Americans, to pay tribute to the women behind the protest.

“True to our collective mission, AAANY not only honors individual guests, but also celebrates groundbreaking movements from over the past year,” the leaders said in a statement.

The massive demonstration, “represented the best of our communities,” according to AAANY. “It demonstrated the vital importance of an alliance that transcends class, religion, culture, race and gender, and firmly illustrated the power and capacity of female leadership.”

Members of AAANY took part in the Women’s March.