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The APPAC Board had the distinct honor of hosting United States Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada). The Board met with the Senator and discussed several policy issues that effect the Pakistani community both in the U.S. and abroad. The Board expressed concern with several provisions in the ‘Patriot Act’, in particular sections 213 and 805 (Both referred to colloquially as the “Sneak and Peak Provision, and the “Material Support Provision”). The Board expressed to Senator Cortez Masto that many Pakistani Americans are unjustly targeted by these provisions of U.S. law. Senator agreed with APPAC that there has been a void in the leadership in the Senate and the Congress to stand up against the hate and fear mongering and calling it as such. She promised to build a great relationship with APPAC to stand against the hate and build a coalition of elected officials that will stand with the Pakistani American Community and continue to have this dialogue. The Board also shed light on the huge loss of life by the citizens of Pakistan since 9/11 due to Global war on terror, tremendous economic impact on the Pakistani economy and about the brave soldiers of Pakistan that have put their lives on the line in the fight against extremism. The Senator thanked the Board for making her aware of the incredible bravery and will exhibited by the Pakistani people. Senator Cortez Masto affirmed her belief in the importance of fostering greater U.S.-Pakistan relations and expressed a sincere belief that a good bilateral relation with Pakistan is mutually beneficial for both countries. The Senator agreed to continue working with APPAC on policy issues of mutual importance and offered an open line of communication with her office.

Would you like to be able to report bias, hate and discrimination incidents with the help of an application on your phone? Now that’s easy. In late June 2017 the Council on American-Islamic Relations launched a new civil rights app this week called “Making Democracy Work for Everyone.” It allows users to quickly report bias incidents they experience, “an important feature during a period of increased hate incidents targeting American Muslims and other minority groups,” says a CAIR press release. The app’s launch comes a few weeks after Nabra Hassanen – a Muslim teen was attacked and killed near a Virginia Mosque. There has been an unprecedented spike in hate crimes targeting Muslims and other minority groups since the election of President Trump. In response to increased number of hate attacks around the country the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee has also launched its Monitoring, Documenting and Reporting Program in late June 2017. Now you can also report incidents of bias, hate and discrimination by reaching out to us at our e-mail info@appac.co or calling 1-877-62 APPAC: If you are interested in volunteering to assist us with program tasks, please contact us. Thank you!

In a recent meeting, APPAC (American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee) described President Trumps statement, about Pakistan’s rescue mission to free US and Canadian hostages, as a “positive moment” for the relationship between the US and Pakistan. “The Pakistan’s government co-operation is a sign that it is honoring America’s wish that it do more to provide security in the region”, President Trump said at a White House event. “They worked very hard on this and I believe they are starting to respect the United States again”, he added. News of the rescue broke the same day that a U.S. delegation, including senior officials from the state and defense departments, traveled to Islamabad to meet Pakistan’s civil and military leadership. Although Mr. Trump wrongfully implies that Pakistan doesn’t respect the United States, APPAC recognizes that you have to start somewhere in order to create change. Pakistan has been victimized by terrorism for many years and would love to eradicate it as much as any other country in the world. APPAC has been endeavoring to improve people to people and government relations between the U.S. and Pakistan. During a recent meeting with Pakistani’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Dr Ijaz Ahmad, Chairman of APPAC, urged the Pakistani government to keep lines of communication open to bridge the differences between the two countries. “Overseas Pakistanis are true ambassadors of their country and can help improve relations and imagery of Pakistan in the world”, Dr. Ijaz informed the Minister. APPAC welcomes improved relations and co-operations between the two countries to contain extremism and bring stability in the region. APPAC has always stressed in the meetings with the elected US leadership that stability and empowerment of the people in the region cannot be achieved without a stable and economically strong Pakistan Pakistanis are peace loving people and need worldwide support to eliminate extremism from the region. Disputes should be solved through dialogue and mutual respect. “Peace will bring a new era of development and prosperity in the world”, APPAC stressed in a statement.

American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee is proudly launching its “Free Legal Aid & Counsel Program for Victims of Bias, Hate Crimes and Discrimination Program”. Number of bias, hate and discrimination cases is on the rise not only in the U.S. but whole world. APPAC believes victims of each alleged bias, hate and discrimination case are entitled to legal aid and counsel and independent investigation. With that goal in mind, APPAC is launching Free Legal Aid & Counsel Program to:

– Help each victim of alleged bias, hate and discrimination case to receive free legal aid & counsel; – Assist with independent investigation of each case; – Bring alleged perpetrators to justice; – Improve existing policies and practices.

If you are aware of individual/s or groups who might be in need of free legal aid & counsel, please do not hesitate to reach out to us using this Facebook Messenger, email – info@appac.co or call 1-877-62 APPAC. In providing free legal aid & counsel APPAC is joining forces and partnering with existing similar programs in the country and we will make sure you will receive a quality and timely advice and assistance. In its earlier events in June and online posts APPAC also announced about launching of our another new Program “Educational Empowerment and Free SAT Preparation”. If you missed that announcement please take a look at our earlier posts here on this Facebook page. Please help us to share and distribute this announcement about our new Program further. It’s only with your “Likes” and “Shares” we can spread these good causes further and take the message to those who are in need of such help. Please don’t remain indifferent, stay involved. Thank you.

Friends, on this Memorial Day, when Americans honor the brave men and women who have fought and died to preserve our freedoms, APPAC also honors three other heroes: Ricky John Best, Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, and Micah David-Cole Fletcher. Last Friday, May 26, these three men intervened to stop the hateful harassment of two young women, one Muslim, on a light rail train in Portland, Oregon. The women escaped injury, but Best and Namkai-Meche lost their lives when the attacker turned on them, and Fletcher was hospitalized with serious wounds. Like all Americans of good will, we are horrified by the recent rise in bigotry, hate crimes, and harassment, and will continue to speak out and fight against them. Donations for the families of these heroes can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/appacforbravetrio