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Movement

Middle East Activism Network

Credit: Abbad Diraniya. License: https://shorturl.at/9WDJ0.

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MENA activism refers to individuals and organizations that seek to influence policy and opinion regarding issues related to the Middle East and North Africa region, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran’s nuclear program, the civil wars in Syria and Libya, human rights and Islamist extremism.

Below are some key issues for activists in the MENA category:

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)

MENA activism includes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Participants in this movement call for:

  • Boycotting entities in Israel and entities allegedly tied to Israel;
  • Divesting from Israeli companies and companies that do business in Israel;
  • Sanctions by governments on the state of Israel and entities tied to Israel.

Proponents of BDS argue that they are non-violently pressuring Israel into accepting Palestinian rights and statehood. These groups see Israel as the primary antagonist in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab conflicts.

There are also individuals and organizations that may not necessarily endorse BDS, but have opposed anti-BDS legislation on First Amendment grounds.

Opponents of BDS argue that the movement is inherently anti-Semitic and tied to terrorist and extremist organizations that seek the elimination of Israel. These groups view anti-Western terrorism and anti-Semitism as primarily responsible for the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab conflicts.

Islamist Extremism

The hub also includes individuals and organizations credibly alleged to be linked to Islamist terrorists and/or extremists, or who have a record of promoting Islamist extremist beliefs such as theocratic governance, justifying acts of terrorism, anti-Semitism, anti-Americanism and advocating for human rights abuses such as mistreatment of women.

There are organizations that oppose Islamist extremism by documenting their activities and trying to influence policy towards Islamism and Islamism-associated groups in the West. There are also Muslim organizations who speak out against Islamism and advocate for modern interpretations of Islam that are compatible with Western values.

Organizations involved in Pro-Palestinian Protests in the United States

The hub also spotlights the organizations most involved in the United States—particularly on college campuses—protesting to support the Palestinian movement or supportive of “free Palestine.” These groups became significantly more active after October 7, 2023.

Individual Activists

Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement Supporters

Islamic Extremists

  • CODEPINK
  • Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)
  • Americans Muslims for Palestine
  • Americans for Justice in Palestine Educational Foundation
  • National Students for Justice in Palestine
  • American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

Militant Protest Organizers

Groups openly urging, planning and carrying out violence that falls into the category of domestic terrorism

  • Al-Awda: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
  • American Muslims for Palestine/Americans for Justice in Palestine Educational Foundation
  • ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition
  • Arab Resource and Organizing Center
  • Columbia University Apartheid Divest
  • CrimethInc Ex-Workers Collective
  • Dream Defenders
  • Escalate Network/Ready to Escalate
  • Fayer Collective
  • International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAZN)
  • International People’s Assembly
  • Movement for Black Lives
  • National Active Club Network
  • Unity of Fields (formerly Palestine Action U.S.)
  • Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)
  • Palestinian Youth Movement
  • Samidoun (Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network)
  • Students for Justice in Palestine
  • The People’s Forum
  • U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights/Education for Justi Peace in the Middle East
  • Within Our Lifetime

Activist Groups Escalating Protests

Activist organizations that work to escalate the severity of the protests, including creating toolkits for protesters, increasing property damage, resisting law enforcement, legal representation, etc.

  • Adalah Justice Project
  • Black Lives Matter Grassroots
  • Catalyst Project: Anti-Racism for Collective Liberation
  • Code Pink
  • Diaspora Pa’lante
  • Healthcare Workers fo Palestine
  • Houston for Palestinian Liberation
  • Jewish Voice For Peace
  • Mississippi Rising Coalition
  • No Tech for Apartheid
  • Pan-African Community Action
  • Patriot Front

Supporters

Groups providing financial support, fiscal sponsorships, direct assistance, moral and political support, etc.

  • Westchester’s People’s Action Coalition (WESPAC Foundation)
  • Alliance for Global Justice
  • Center for Constitutional Right
  • Allied Media Projects
  • BAYAN-USA
  • National Lawyers Guild
  • Center for Third World Organizing
  • Common Counsel Foundation
  • Tides Advocacy
  • Tides Center
  • Community Movement Builders
  • Muslim Legal Fund of America
  • Progress Unity Fund
  • National Lawyers Guild
  • Palestine Legal

Political Warfare

Groups engaged in political warfare and minimizing their public support for terrorism and criminality

  • Advocating for Palestine
  • Alasna Institute
  • Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network/Middle East Policy Network
  • American Civic and Humanitarian Coalition
  • American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
  • Arab-American Action Network
  • Dear Asian Youth
  • Decolonize Palestine
  • Democratic Socialist of America
  • HANA Center
  • If Americans Knew
  • International Action Center
  • International League of Peoples’ Struggle
  • International Migrants Alliance
  • Islamic Circle of North America
  • Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
  • Mass Liberation Project
  • Middle East Children’s Alliance
  • Muslim Alliance in North America
  • Muslim American Society
  • National Justice Party
  • New Students for a Democratic Society
  • PAL-AWDA: Palestinian Assembly for Liberation
  • Palestinian Feminist Collective
  • Queers for Palestine
  • Queers Undermining Israeli Terror
  • Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights
  • Tempest Collective
  • The Party for Socialism and Liberation
  • Trans Resistance Action Committee
  • U.S. Palestinian Community Network
  • United National Antiwar Coalition
  • We Want Democracy
  • Women Against Military Madness
  • Workers’ Voice
  • Workers’ World Party

Labor Unions Supporting Pro-Palestinian Activists

Many labor unions have openly supported Palestine—from calls to ceasefire, support of the BDS movement, participation in protests on colleges and elsewhere, and working in solidarity with Palestinian workers.

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