New Political Engagement Organization for SWANA Community Launches in San Francisco

September 20, 2024 By Christopher Alam | Al Enteshar Newspaper 

A new political organization launched this month in San Francisco with a mission to advocate for the Arab and Muslim communities through active involvement in electoral politics. Named AROC Action, this group is focused on endorsing candidates, canvassing, and lobbying for key issues that resonate with these communities.

AROC Action is a new initiative born out of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC), a well-known nonprofit that has been serving the Bay Area through demonstrations and social services. Despite their shared history, AROC Action operates independently of AROC, with a distinct focus. While AROC remains a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, AROC Action is a 501(c)(4) organization, enabling it to directly participate in political campaigns and elections. As an “action” organization, its work will primarily focus on grassroots lobbying for specific legislation that impacts the community.

Lara Kiswani, executive director of AROC and a driving force behind the launch of AROC Action, elaborated on its unique role. “What’s new is this is really the first political organization that launched directly to support pro-ceasefire candidates since this genocide. It’s the first of its kind in the state of California and perhaps even in the country that specifically aimed to mobilize electoral support for an immediate ceasefire and for an arms embargo. And so that is unique.”

Kiswani emphasizes that the issues affecting the SWANA (Southwest Asian and North African) community are multifaceted, reflecting the diverse makeup of the community, which includes working-class immigrants, small business owners, students, professionals, and second- and third-generation Arab Americans.

“The various issues that touch them (our community members) and matter to them vary to some extent, and we see the role of AROC Action as advocating for specifically progressive issues in support of our communities and in defending against anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim racism, against the surveillance and targeting of our people. Advocating for public education, stronger immigration policies that protect our migrant communities, and advancing other social and economic reforms that benefit the broader working class community.”

AROC Action is also monitoring elections at the local school board level, where debates have erupted over teaching the history of the Israeli occupation and curriculum on Palestine. Kiswani points out that right-wing and Zionist groups have been aggressively lobbying nationwide to ban books and pressure educators who teach about Palestine.

For the Fall 2024 election cycle, AROC Action is concentrating on endorsing candidates at the local, state, and federal levels across the San Francisco Bay Area. A comprehensive endorsement list is expected in the coming weeks. Looking ahead, the group plans to expand its efforts to more regions in California and potentially to other states.

AROC Action is seeking volunteers and donors to assist with canvassing, door-knocking, and phone banking for key candidates. Kiswani stresses the importance of political engagement, especially in the current climate.

“As we speak, there’s laws and attempts to criminalize Palestinian solidarity, to make it so that these kinds of organizations don’t even exist, to make it so that they’re quelling free speech. And so creating this kind of organization, in this kind of climate, also demonstrates our political will and our commitment to doing everything we can to save Palestinian life, to support our people, and to fight for economic and racial justice here and everywhere.”