On Sunday, June 27th, 2021, APPAC was joined by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. AG James has been a strong advocate for Pakistani-Americans and continuously denounces and investigates acts of hate and violence against Muslim Americans.
Tish James has made that a priority during her time as Attorney General by holding key positions for Pakistani-Americans and providing leadership opportunities for our community. This type of representation has made a lasting impact on generations of Pakistani-Americans, including first-generation South Asian young people who have been running for office in NYC, working to bring meaningful and positive change for our communities.
Thanks to Tish James for setting that example and continuing to recognize the importance of including Pakistani and Muslim communities.
On Sunday June 13th, 2021, APPAC joined supporters and community members to announce an endorsement for Maya Wiley for NYC Mayor. Maya is devoted to public service and will bring outstanding experience as a civil rights activist and attorney to City Hall. She has been a true friend to New York’s Muslim community and will ensure that fairness and equality extend to all people of this City. As ballots are continuing to come in from Primary Day, we are thrilled to continue to support Maya Wiley for NYC Mayor.
(New York, June 9, 2021) — On Sunday, a man in London Ontario allegedly deliberately attacked a Pakistani family, killing four and seriously injuring a child. The American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee has the following statement regarding the attack:
“APPAC is heartbroken over the recent attack against a Pakistani Muslim family in London, Ontario. Four members of the family were killed, and a 9-year old is the sole survivor of this horrific attack and remains in serious condition. All were targeted due to their faith. This is a terrorist attack on Canadian soil and we are demanding that it is labeled as such and that justice is served to the fullest extent of the law. Islamophobia and hate crimes continue to run rampant throughout the world, and the international community must come together to denounce Islamophobia. There is no place for hate and violence in our community. These attacks must end,” says Dr. Ijaz Ahmad, Chairman of American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC).
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(New York, May 17, 2021) — The American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee expresses its anguish on the worsening humanitarian crisis and loss of innocent civilian lives due to Israeli aggression on occupied Palestinian land. We fully support Senator Bob Menendez calling for a “full accounting of actions that have led to civilian deaths and destruction of media outlets.”
What has been happening in Palestine is a history of settler colonialism and continued ethnic cleansing. Israeli military occupation has been unconditionally supported, and funded, by the U.S. The ongoing violence continues to have implications on the U.S. security and foreign interests in the Middle East and its effectiveness as a global leader that can broker peace equitably.
We appreciate increasingly bold voices of consciousness rising from Capitol Hill and the Senate holding the Israeli regime accountable for its barbaric strikes against children, women and the indiscriminate destruction of homes and neighborhoods, where families have lived for decades.
The Biden administration, however, has only taken small steps to acknowledge the current ongoing conflict and has not engaged regional stakeholders sufficiently to end the misery of war. The U.S. must maintain its position as an international beacon of freedom, democracy, and equality and swiftly demand accountability for the innocent lives lost.
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New Jersey (March 30, 2021) – The American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) is hailing President Biden’s appointment of Judge Zahid Quraishi as a historic moment in the history of the American judicial system. If confirmed, Judge Quraishi would be the first Muslim American to serve as a Federal Judge in United States history. APPAC was integral in spearheading Judge Quraishi’s candidacy after meeting with Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Cory Booker in 2018 about the need to bring a Muslim American Judge to the US District Court Bench. The group vetted dozens of potential candidates and recommended Judge Quraishi based on his stellar record as a jurist, diverse experiences and service to his country and community. President Biden’s appointment Tuesday capped off the three-year long process.
“The American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee congratulates Judge Zahid Quraishi on his historic appointment. We are proud to have played an instrumental role in making this appointment happen and thank President Biden, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Bob Menendez, Senator Charles Schumer and many other elected officials for hearing our calls about the need for a Muslim American Federal Judge. APPAC’s mission is to elevate Pakistani and Muslim Americans in the U.S. government so this appointment is a significant achievement for our organization,” said Dr. Ijaz Ahmad, Chairman of APPAC. Dr. Ahmad continued, “Over 3.5 million Muslims live in the United States, and up until now, our voices have been underrepresented on the Federal bench. Judge Quraishi’s appointment reinforces the notion that fairness and impartiality prevail for all Americans who appear before the court. He brings a wealth of perspectives to the bench and is a strong example of the contributions that Muslim Americans make to this country. This a proud day. Congratulations to Judge Quraishi on this accomplishment.”
“Congratulations to a very good friend, Judge Zahid Quraishi for this historic nomination. It has been an honor to advocate for and support his path to the federal bench. Our strength comes
from the diversity of ideas that we bring to resolve issues we face as a nation and in Zahid we hope to see that from the Federal Bench.” said Ather Tirmizi, Executive Director of APPAC.
About Judge Zahid Quraishi: Judge Quraishi is a distinguished jurist, having served as a former prosecutor, private attorney and US Magistrate. He is also a U.S. Army veteran, Former Chief Counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a proud Pakistani American.
About the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) APPAC was founded in 2017 with the mission of creating resources not only for Pakistani Americans but for all marginalized communities nationally. Our objective is to provide a substantial amount of support for Pakistani and Muslim Americans to run for their local town, city, and states race and win. Our primary focus is on building resources, creating policies, and fighting for legislation that is beneficial to not only the Pakistani American community but all the communities. We strive to create a society that serves equality and justice for all. APPAC also believes in supporting candidates who are clear in their commitment to full civic and human rights for all. We encourage and work simultaneously with other individuals and groups who share our vision, in the true American spirit of inclusiveness and equality for all. Our goal is to stand by those who take a stand against bigotry, prejudice, and hate.
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As our nation reckons with rising incidents of hate and violence directed toward minority communities, APPAC stands in solidarity with all who fall victim to the senseless consequences of Islamophobia, racism, xenophobia, religious prejudice, and oppression.
On Thursday March 11th 2021, we hosted our first in-person, socially distant event to support NYC Comptroller candidate David Weprin. We discussed the need for protecting middle-class New Yorkers, equitable property taxes in NYC, and opportunities for Pakistani Americans in government.
On International Women’s Day, APPAC held a virtual fireside chat with U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, Saima Mohsin, along with APPAC General Board Secretary Aisha U-Kiu, and APPAC Communications Coordinator Sophia Abbasi. Saima shared her positive experiences as a Pakistani-American woman in the law enforcement field and discussed staying in touch with Pakistani culture in the U.S.
Watch the full event video here:
APPAC welcomed Senator Bob Menendez for a virtual meet and greet with our national chapters. Senator Bob Menendez, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been a strong supporter of the interests of the Pakistani-American community and raised concerns regarding the ongoing situation in Kashmir.
Menendez mentioned, “we will also use our role as the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee to highlight the situation in Kashmir, as well as to press the administration to raise these questions on a government-to-government level.” We look forward to working with Senator Menendez on a resolution in Kashmir at the government level.
Watch the full press talk here:
APPAC joined the Muslim Democratic Club of New York for a webinar to educate our community on the importance of Ranked Choice Voting and what this means for upcoming NYC elections.
Ranked Choice Voting is a form of electoral voting that allows voters to rank candidates by their preference. Voters can submit a list with their first-choice candidate for a position, second choice, third choice, and so on. With Ranked Choice Voting becoming a popular form of exercising civic engagement in recent elections, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the process in the event that it comes up in your County.
Watch the full webinar:
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Watch the full webinar: