AMC 2008

Presenters: Mona Eldahry, Arab Women Active in the Arts and Media; Steve Pierce, Hudson Mohawk Indymedia Center; Nada Elia, INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence

What does the future of "free speech," censorship and political repression look like through an Arab/Muslim lens? While mainstream media demonizes Arabs and Muslims, independent media and art made by Arabs/Muslims is deemed terrorist propaganda. Even the expression of solidarity can be criminal. This panel will draw lessons from the experience of AWAAM (Arab Women Active in Arts and Media) whose "INTIFADA NYC" t-shirts became the basis for a racist smear campaign against The Khalil Gibran International Academy and its founding principal, Debbie Almontaser. We'll hear from the Hudson-Mohawk Indymedia center, who's willingness to host Iraqi artist Wafaa Bilal's "Virtual Jihada" exhibit caused the city to shut down their community space. We'll also hear the story of why the Ford Foundation revoked $100,000 from INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence moments before their Color of Violence III conference in 2005. From each of these stories we'll build our collective knowledge of how to prepare for and respond to a future of increased censorship and political repression in all targeted communities.