National Summit to Stop the Repression Against Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Immigrants
Dearborn, Michigan - May 18--19
Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS)

First they came for the Communists and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Catholics and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant.
Then they came for me, but by that time, no one was left to speak up.

Pastor Martin Niemoeller,
Nazi Germany

May 9, 2002

Friends in the struggle,

The words of Pastor Martin Niemoeller ring eerily true in the USA of 2002. But this time, there are two big differences. First, they are coming for the Muslim, Arab and South Asian immigrants AND second, we are speaking up and taking action.

Yet the level of opposition has not been strong enough. Increased and diverse actions by many different people are required to stop this repressive wave of racial profiling, roundups, disappearances, indefinite detentions, denial of due process, secret evidence, military tribunals and threatened death penalties.

A national movement to resist this new level of repression is urgently needed. The February 20 National Day of Solidarity with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Immigrants showed the high level of interest in protesting and halting this repression. Local activists have been protesting, alerting the public, defending immigrants and exposing these accelerating and unprecedented measures imposed by the government on many different levels. National leaders and organizations have expressed alarm and concern, issued policy analysis and formed new alliances to fight this attack on civil liberties. The times demand that we act together before it is too late. We invite you to participate in a summit to develop the plan of action for this national movement. A working meeting is scheduled for May 18 and 19 in Southeast Michigan, home to the highest concentration of people of Arab descent in the Western Hemisphere and a growing South Asian community.

We are not proposing yet another organization, but a new level of cooperation and coordination that would best serve the needs of the people. The signatories of this invitation have differing views on the reasons for the repression against Muslim, Arab and South Asian immigrants and the definitive solutions. But far more importantly, the participants in this Summit will:

o Work to develop a shared plan of action to resist and halt these government measures and to reverse the culture of anti-immigrant hostility they create in society at large, and

o Strategize on how best to reach millions of people who are disturbed by these developments along with those who are the direct targets of this repression, so that we support those who want to act as well as those who are most vulnerable and most isolated.

Please join us in Dearborn (suburb of Detroit) to stop these repressive actions by helping build a hospitable community.

Summit Signatories (partial):

• ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services), Ismael Ahmed, Executive Director, Dearborn, MI
• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (national)
• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Michigan Chapter
• American Muslim Council
• Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, University of Michigan*, Ann Arbor, MI
• Arab-American Community Forum, Dearborn, MI (represents 25 organizations)
• Abayomi Azikwe, Editor, Pan-African News Wire Detroit, MI
• Carol Brouillet, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom*, Palo Alto, CA
• Maribel Burgos, Executive Assistant, Social Justice Ministries, The Riverside Church*, New York, NY
• Chicago Direct Action Network
• Civilians Down (a support group for surviving family and friends of those killed by police), Houston, TX
• Committee for a Democratic Palestine, Chicago, IL
• Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) (national office)
• Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Michigan Chapter
• Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) New York chapter
• Abdullah El-Amin, The Muslim Center, Detroit, MI
• Free Palestine Alliance, Chicago, IL
• Lynn Furay, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom*, Houston, TX
• Dr. Bruce B. Graves, Ph.D., Consultant and Counselor at Liberation, Ypsilanti, MI
• Thomas Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit*
• Granada Muslims and Jews for Human Rights, Chicago, IL
• Elena Herrada, Committee for the Political Resurrection of Detroit, Detroit, MI
• Gloria House, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, Wayne State University*, Detroit, MI
• Houston A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism)
• Houston Coalition for Justice Not War
• Donna Huanca, Curator, Art Car Museum*, Houston, TX
• Rev. Larry Hutchison, Minister, First Unitarian Universalist Church*, Detroit, MI
• George Khoury, board member, ACCESS*, Huntington Woods, MI
• Paul Lefrak, Representative, Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 100*, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
• Travis Morales, supporter of the Revolutionary Communist Party, Houston, TX
• Dawn Nelson, Green House Peace Project*, Peace is Power*, Phoenix Alliance*, Brighton, MI
• Hasan Newash, American Council on Palestinian Affairs*, Grosse Point, MI
• Palestine Aid Society, Chicago, IL
• Peoples' Progressive Network of Washtenaw County, Michigan Refuse & Resist!
• La Resistencia
• La Resistencia Youth and Student Network, Houston, TX
• Holly Severson-Brooks, Freelance Journalist and Peace Activist, Ann Arbor, MI
• Charles Simmons, co-chair, Committee for the Political Resurrection of Detroit, Detroit, MI
• Society of the Sacred Heart--US Province-Leadership Team
• Solidarity USA, Dr. Yaser Bushnaq - Chief Coordinator, Falls Church, VA
• The Street Wall Journal, Rev. Thomas F. Saffold, Managing Editor, Ann Arbor, MI
• Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE), University of Michigan*, Ann Arbor, MI
• Triangle Foundation, Detroit, MI
• TriCity Peace Action, Hayward, Fremont and Union City, CA
• University Peace Initiative/Professors Opposing War (UPI/POW) at the University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Vietnam Veterans Against the War Anti-Imperialist
• Shanti Wesley, Advocate for MANAVI, New Brunswick, NJ

* For identification purposes only.

Join the call as a signatory

Add ____my name or ___our organization* as a signatory to the invitation to the May 18 & 19 summit in Dearborn.

* (___) Check if for identification purposes only. Return to: firsttheycamefor@yahoo.com (mail signed forms to address below)

Signature__________________________________________________

Name Printed_______________________________________________

Organization or
Institution____________________________________________Title________________
____

Address________________________________________Phone____________________
E-mail____________

Enclosed is my donation of $_____to distribute this call and help cover Summit organizing expenses.

Please return endorsed calls and donations to: National Summit, P.O. Box 7152, Dearborn, MI 48121-7152

Please contact firsttheycamefor@yahoo.com for more information.

National Summit To Stop The Repression Of Muslim, Arab And South Asian Immigrants

Conference Registration

May 18 & 19, 2002 * Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) 6451 Schaefer Rd., Dearborn, MI 48126 (between Ford Rd. & Warren Ave.)

Sat. May 18: 10am-6pm, Sun May 19: 10am to 2pm

Please complete one registration form for each person attending the summit and return as soon as possible via e-mail

I would like to register [check one]:

___1 individual @$25.00 ___1 student /low income@$10.00

Please bring your checkbook or cash with you to the Summit for payment when you check in.
Name_________________________________________________________
Organization or school
(check if for identification only __) ______________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Tel___________________________Email ___________________________

Travel info for Pickup and Departure Transportation (if needed)

Arrival:
__ I will need to be picked up at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)
Arrival Date & Time:_________________________________________
Airline & Flight :_____________________________
-OR- __ I will need to be picked up at [check one]:
___Detroit Greyhound Terminal ___Dearborn Amtrak station
___Other:_____________________________________________________
Arrival Date & Time:______________________________________________

Departure:
__ I will need transportation to Detroit Metro Airport (DTW)

Departure Date & Time:__________________________________________
Airline & Flight:________________________________________________

-OR- __ I will need transportation to [check one]:

___Detroit Greyhound Terminal ___Dearborn Amtrak station

___Other:_____________________________________________________
Departure Date & Time:__________________________________________

IF YOU ARE ARRIVING BY CAR FROM OUT OF TOWN, PLEASE E-MAIL US FOR DIRECTIONS FROM YOUR LOCATION.

Accommodations

A number of moderately-priced motels and hotels are located near the Summit site. We are looking into working out some group rates and will send out that information within the next few days so people can make reservations.

For now, we need to know how many people will need lodging.

Special needs, if any, that require extra attention (e.g., dietary, medical or accessibility needs):
_______________________________________________

Meals
Delicious and nutritious meals (Halal and vegetarian) will be provided.

REPLY VIA E-MAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO: firsttheycamefor@yahoo.com

SEND MAIL TO: NATIONAL SUMMIT, P.O. BOX 7152, DEARBORN, MI 48121-7152