Hatem Abudayyeh

Hatem Abudayyeh

Hatem Abudayyeh allied with FRSO

Hatem Abudayyeh is the executive director of the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) in Chicago and is a longtime Palestinian activist. Hatem Abudayyeh is also the national chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network.

Hatem Abudayyeh has spoken or written against Israeli policies in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon and supported “resistance” against Israel.

He is the son of Khairy Izzat Abudayyeh.

Pro-Palestinian activists vow to march without permit at DNC

Hatem Abudayyeh was cited in an article at the local CBS News affiliate in Chicago, Illinois titled "Pro-Palestinian activists vow to march without permit at DNC after DePaul encampment taken down" by Todd Feurer dated May 16, 2024.

"Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair of the United States Palestinian Community Network, said protest organizers do not believe the city would have approved their permit application, after denying other requests for permits to march near the DNC, and after the city removed the DePaul encampment.

""After what we saw, and what we experienced, we just decided that we're not going to file," Abudayyah said.

The coalition instead plans to hold the Aug. 21 march without a permit, protest organizers said. Meantime, the coalition has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to force the city to issue permits for two other protest marches planned within blocks of the United Center during the convention.

"We will have tens of thousands of people in the streets of Chicago that week. It will be the largest mobilization for Palestinian rights in the history of this city," Abudayyah said.

March on the DNC Will Center Palestine Solidarity

Hatem Abudayyeh and Faayani Aboma Mijana were featured on the Black Agenda Report with Margaret Kimberley discussing the March on the DNC 2024.

"We’re joined by Faayani Aboma Mijana, spokesperson for the Coalition to March on the DNC and a member of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and Hatem Abudayyeh, chair of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network and also a spokesperson for March on the DNC. They will discuss plans for mobilization during the Democratic National Convention and why it will focus on Palestine. They are joining us from Chicago, where the convention will be held.

March on the DNC 2024

Hatem Abudayyeh, Spokesperson of March on DNC 2024

Hatem Abudayyeh addressed the March on the DNC 2024 conference on April 13, 2024 held at "Teamster City" at 300 S Ashland Ave. in Chicago. From the online invitation:

"We are a coalition of organizations that fights for the rights and liberation of oppressed people and against the exploitation of workers.

On August 19th and 22nd, 2024, we will march on the Democratic National Convention in Chicago first and foremost to demand an end to the genocide in Gaza, stand in solidarity with Palestine, and call for an end to US aid to Israel, and bring the people's agenda to within sight and sound of the Democratic Party leadership.

We are calling on other grassroots organizations fighting for exploited and oppressed people to unite with us as we take the demands of the people to the Democratic Party in August 2024.

We are hosting an all-day conference in Chicago on April 13th to prepare for the march and for the actions leading up to it. This conference is for participating organizations and for organizations interested in getting involved or learning more.

Masks will be required and a limited amount of free masks will be made available. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and water bottles will be provided for attendees. Registration will begin at 8am and breakfast will be served at 8:30am.

No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please email us at contact@marchondnc2024.org if you need a free ticket to attend.

Please note: This RSVP form will be closed 24 hours before the start of the conference. Tickets will be available for sale at registration the morning of the conference starting at 8am.

MARCH ON DNC CONFERENCE PROGRAM:

8 AM REGISTRATION OPENS

8:30 AM BREAKFAST

9 AM OPENING PLENARY: THE PEOPLE’S MOVEMENTS STAND WITH PALESTINE

10:20 AM BREAK

10:30 AM BREAKOUT SESSIONS BASED ON DEMANDS (choose one)

The Movement Against Police Crimes Stands with Palestine

The Labor Movement Stands with Palestine

The Immigrant Rights Movement Stands with Palestine

The Anti-War Movement Stands with Palestine

The Movement for LGBTQ & Reproductive Rights Stands with Palestine

12:00 PM LUNCH

1:00 PM ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS BREAKOUT SESSIONS (choose one)

Media & Outreach

Security & Logistics

Program for the Demonstrations

Fundraising

March on RNC

2:30 PM BREAK

2:45 PM PERMIT PRESSURE CAMPAIGN

3:00 PM KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PRESENTATION FROM NLG

3:30 PM FINAL PLENARY: MARCHING FORWARD TO THE DNC & BEYOND

Israel 'Does Not Have the Right to Exist'

'Ep. 39 - The Al-Aqsa Flood & the Fight for Palestinian Liberation with Hatem Abudayyeh'

Hatem Abudayyeh was interviewed by Richard Berg of Freedom Road Socialist Organization/FightBack! on Oct 29, 2023.

White House visit

Hatem Abudayyeh visited the White House at least once. He met with Paul Monterio, Associate Director, White House Office of Public Engagement on April 22, 2010.

September 24, 2010 FBI Raids

On September 24 the F.B.I. raided the homes of twelve leftist activists across the U.S.A. looking for links to foreign terrorist organizations. executive director, Hatem Abudayyeh Arab American Action Network was one of those whose home was raided and who is being investigated by the FBI.

People's Thanksgiving, 2013

Since 1992, activists with FightBack! News, some of whom are members of Freedom Road Socialist Organization/FightBack!, have held a People’s Thanksgiving dinner. According to Joe Iosbaker, “It was started as part of a movement to protest 500 years of colonialism and to celebrate the resistance of the indigenous people.”

Each year the dinner has recognized activists and organizations that have contributed to struggles in Chicago and around the country.

In 2013, there was urgency to the gathering. Rasmea Odeh, a beloved activist in the Palestinian community in Chicago, is under attack by the U.S. government. The Sunday, Dec. 8 dinner will raise funds for her defense, in addition to helping to keep publishing FightBack!.

Hatem Abudayyeh, a friend of FightBack!, and himself a victim of repression, said, “The FBI and the U.S. attorney in Chicago have used political repression against 23 anti-war and international solidarity activists for the past three years. Now the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. attorney in Detroit are victimizing Rasmea.”

Along with Rasmea Odeh, the dinner honored two activists with the Anti-War Committee-Chicago: Newland Smith, a longtime fixture in the Palestine solidarity movement, and Sarah Simmons for her role resisting Mayor Emanuel’s attack on the Chicago Teachers Union and public education. Pete Camarata, a founder of Teamsters for a Democratic Union, was recognized for his lifelong efforts for the cause of working people. And the continued struggle for justice for Trayvon Martin will be highlighted by a Skype message from Michael Sampson, a Dream Defenders member who occupied the State Capitol in Florida after the acquittal of George Zimmerman.http://www.fightbacknews.

ILPS conference

“Right to Exist, Right to Resist” was the theme of the national political conference called by the International League of Peoples Struggles (ILPS) - U.S. Chapter, held in Chicago, Oct. 22. 2016. ILPS is an anti-imperialist and democratic formation, which promotes anti-imperialist and democratic struggles of the peoples of the world. “We mobilized over 160 people from around the U.S. and Canada to discuss how to build the struggle against U.S. wars abroad and war on the workers and oppressed people at home,” said Bernadette Ellorin, national chairperson of BAYAN USA, an alliance of progressive Filipino organizations.

Frank Chapman of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression spoke about the struggle in Chicago for community control of the police. “In the final analysis movements such as our must be measured by our ability to challenge the powers that be and bring about the systemic changes needed to empower the people.”

Sarah Chambers, a member of the executive board of the Chicago Teachers Union, gave a fiery speech about the recent contract fight for 23,000 teachers.

Hatem Abudayyeh of the Rasmea Defense Committee addressed the crowd on behalf of the iconic Palestinian community activist, Rasmea Odeh, who is on trial by the U.S. government for her commitment to her homeland and her people. Abudayyeh urged the crowd to travel to Detroit on Nov. 29, in solidarity with Rasmea as she and her lawyers appear in court. Abudayyeh explained, “This is the most important political trial in the country - resisting the attempt by the Department of Justice to criminalize all those who struggle for Palestine.”

AAAN Board

Arab American Action Network staff, as of 2016;

• Executive Director - Hatem Abudayyeh
• Associate Director - Rasmea Odeh
• Lead Case Manager - Samira Ahmad
• Youth Services Program Coordinator - Halima Bahri
• Citizenship Project - Ayeda Alwan, Muna Hammad
• Youth Organizers - Nesreen Hasan, Bassem Kawar, Muhammad Sankari
• Youth Services Program Associate - Sundous Daghash
• Case Managers - Rowaida Nofal, Fatmah Tabally

Anti-Trump protest

Hatem Abudayyeh of the Arab American Action Network speaking at the emergency rally at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, against President Trump's executive order banning entry into the US from 7 Muslim countries.

"Day 8 in the Resistance"

Activists in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, rallied 400 people today, Feb. 4, 2017, to make their village a strong sanctuary. They urged the village trustees and mayor to keep their word and adopt a Welcoming Village Ordinance that would protect immigrants. The organizers opposed a previous proposal with deportation loopholes.

One of the endorsing groups, the Arab American Action Network (AAAN), called this “Day 8 in the Resistance to Trump's Executive Orders.”

The resistance movement began on Saturday, Jan. 28, as tens of thousands of protesters flooded airports all across the nation to protest the Trump administration's executive order signed the day before, which effectively banned all refugees, plus citizens from seven Arab, African, or Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. Just days after the signing of executive orders going after sanctuary cities like Chicago, and expanding the wall on the U.S. southern border with Mexico, 3000 protesters descended on the international terminal of O’Hare Airport, after confirmation by the International Rescue Committee that refugees and their families were detained there by the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol.

At a press conference before the protest, Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of AAAN, stated, “The cruel irony in what is being called the ‘Muslim ban,’ in the freezing of all refugee resettlement, and in the blocking of visas for immigrants from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, is that the U.S. is either directly militarily engaged or has been threatening military engagement with every single one of these countries. We're dropping bombs or sending weapons and forcing people to flee their homes, and now we're saying that they can't flee here.”

The immediate demands of the coalition at O’Hare were bold and clear: the immediate release of all detainees and the rescinding of the executive orders, a call for Chicago to revise its Welcoming City ordinance to remove carve outs so as to protect all residents, and an end to police criminalization of Black people and other communities of color in Chicago.

The Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression had organized its own press conference on Thursday, Jan. 26, a few days before the O’Hare upsurge. Because the struggle against Trump has to build on the struggle against police crimes, organizers including Michael Brunson, recording secretary of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), pledged to continue pushing to pass the important Civilian Police Accountability Council ordinance at the Chicago city council level.

At that press conference, Muhammad Sankari of the United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), said, “We will not allow Rahm Emanuel to use the immigrant community to wash the blood of Laquan, Rekia, Damo, and many more off his hands. Sanctuary means sanctuary for all residents of Chicago, including protecting the Black community from racist police.”

The first day of protest at O’Hare was followed on Sunday, Jan. 29, by another protest of 3000 people. Then on Wednesday, Feb. 1, AAAN organized a press conference protest at the Department of Homeland Security in downtown Chicago. Over 1000 people marched through the Loop to Federal Plaza.

In addition to the Arab American Action Network, leading and organizing the Trump resistance of the past week and a half in Chicago has been AnakBayan, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Black Lives Matter, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Chicago Teachers Union, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Korean Resource and Cultural Center, National Immigrant Justice Center, Organized Communities Against Deportations, PASO - West Suburban Action Project, United African Organization and many others.