Championing Arab-American Rights: A Conversation with ADC’s Abed Ayoub & Laud NGO’s Humanitarian Efforts in Gaza

In a candid conversation held on Monday, 03 Mar, 2025, Abed Ayoub, National Executive Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), shared a comprehensive overview of the state of the Arab-American community. The meeting also featured insights from the Laud NGO outlining their initiatives in Gaza and Cairo to alleviate Palestinian suffering.

Abed Ayoub & ADC’s Stance

The <a href=’ADC”>https://adc.org/’>ADC is an organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their cultural heritage. It was founded by former U.S. Senator James Abourezk in 1980 and is currently the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the U.S. In the meeting, Ayoub voiced concerns about the community’s current challenges and emphasized the necessity of a strategic approach.

“We will have a conversation about the state of our community, lessons learned from over the past year, challenges ahead, and what we have to do to put ourselves in a better position.”

Ayoub argued that the community has been failing in many areas, such as on college campuses, political losses, and social media. However, he remained optimistic and stressed the importance of truth and justice, stating that “we always have truth and justice on our side.”

Addressing Challenges & Strategies

Ayoub opined that the community’s structures and ways of communicating are inefficient and lacking cohesion and strategy. He emphasized the need to support elections in advance and encouraged the community to take advantage of online spaces before they are silenced. He also suggested that the community should not align itself with any political spectrum, but rather figure out how to work with people on all spectrums.

The Laud NGO’s Mission in Gaza

In the same meeting, representatives from Laud NGO shared their experiences working on the ground in Gaza and Cairo to alleviate Palestinian suffering. Started by Cecilia in February 2024, Laud NGO aims to avoid homelessness for Gazans in Cairo by covering basic needs, providing housing, and even starting a school and kitchen in Rafah. They have a database of 4,000 families and work closely with the Ministry of Health in Palestine and the Palestinian embassy. However, they also face challenges as Palestinians in Cairo are not able to secure residency or refugee status, thereby limiting their access to public health, schools, and jobs.

Looking Ahead

Despite the challenges faced, both organizations remain hopeful and determined to continue their work. Abed Ayoub stressed the need to focus on local and state agendas and prepare for midterm elections, while Laud NGO is committed to providing necessary aid to Palestinians in Cairo and Gaza. Both organizations recognize the importance of strategic planning and effective communication to achieve their goals.

As Laila, a participant in the discussion, wisely noted, “As we move from a resistance movement to a leadership movement, we need to be prepared for that.”

Freedom Advocacy Network

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