ADC

Advocates for Arab American civil rights

ADC

Advocates for Arab American civil rights

Overview

ADC focuses on protecting the civil rights of Arab Americans, promoting mutual understanding between communities, and preserving Arab American cultural heritage. It carries out advocacy, education programs, legal aid, and community events through a member-driven network across the United States. It differentiates itself by being the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the country, with a history dating back to 1980 when it was founded by former U.S. Senator James Abourezk. Its main goal is to defend civil rights, foster cross-cultural understanding, and strengthen Arab American communities nationwide.

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About ADC

Simplify's Rating

Why ADC is rated

B-

Rated B on Competitive Edge

Rated B on Growth Potential

Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

ConsultingIndustrial & Manufacturing

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Washington DC, District of Columbia

Founded

1980

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Simplify's take

What believers are saying

October 2026 CBP portal rides a 33% fiscal-year surge in device searches.
Recent wins in Blumenthal, Shehadeh, and Imam prove ADC can force device returns.
September 2026 board expansion and expanded legal mission signal organizational scale-up and donor appeal.

What critics are saying

September 2026 harassment controversy keeps governance and culture under public scrutiny.
ADC's Palestine-focused activism draws retaliatory pressure from universities, agencies, and employers.
No nationwide warrant standard exists; an adverse Supreme Court ruling could shrink ADC's core casework.

What makes ADC unique

ADC pairs civil-rights advocacy with aggressive federal impact litigation nationwide.
Jenin Younes and new 2026 board additions strengthen ADC's legal and fundraising bench.
ADC's reporting portal turns border-device seizures into intake, evidence collection, and litigation pipeline.

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Company News

Fairmont Post

Oct 29th, 2026

ADC launches portal to document CBP electronic device seizures at U.S. Borders.

ADC launches portal to document CBP electronic device seizures at U.S. Borders. Group cites rising searches, recent court wins returning devices, and unresolved Fourth Amendment questions. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee has launched a national reporting portal for travelers whose electronic devices were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at airports and other ports of entry. The platform lets people confidentially report confiscated phones, laptops or other devices directly to ADC's legal team. ADC says it continues to receive reports involving journalists, activists, attorneys, Arabs, Muslims and ordinary Americans who have criticized the government. Incidents have been reported at Washington Dulles, Newark Liberty, Miami International, Boston Logan, Los Angeles and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Read also. "Every week, we hear from more Americans who have had their devices seized simply because they refused to surrender access to their private information and who appear to have been targeted in the first place because they voiced views or participated in professional activities challenging the Administration - particularly on Middle East foreign policy," said ADC President and Legal Director Jenin Younes. "The challenges we have been able to file represent only a fraction of unlawful seizures and searches. We want to hear from anyone who has experienced this treatment so we can document the scope of these abuses and hold the government accountable." CBP statistics show officers conducted more than 52,000 electronic-device searches in the first nine months of fiscal year 2026, a nearly 33 percent increase over the same period in 2025. The agency conducted more than 55,000 searches in fiscal year 2025, an annual record. A September 2026 Department of Homeland Security Inspector General report identified failures in CBP's documentation and oversight, including inadequate tracking of whether information from devices was copied, retained or shared. ADC has secured recent court orders returning devices and requiring the government to explain what happened to them and the data they contained. Cases include journalist Max Blumenthal (two phones seized at Dulles), attorney Jalal "Jay" Shehadeh (phone seized at Newark containing privileged communications) and Muhammad Numaan Imam and his wife Khadijah Mansoor (four devices seized at Dulles). ADC has also filed an amicus brief in Anibowei v. Blanche urging the Supreme Court to resolve a circuit split and set a nationwide standard, citing the privacy principles in Riley v. California. There is still no uniform nationwide standard for when border officials may search the contents of a phone without a warrant. Federal appellate courts have issued conflicting interpretations of the Fourth Amendment. Individuals can report incidents at adc.org/report-device-seizure. Submitting a report does not guarantee legal representation. The announcement documents reported seizures and launches a collection tool; it does not establish the proportion of searches that were unlawful.

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

Sep 21st, 2026

ADC welcomes Gina Aranki to Board of Directors as organization expands legal mission.

ADC welcomes Gina Aranki to Board of Directors as organization expands legal mission. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 21, 2026 Washington, D.C. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) announced the appointment of Gina Aranki, a veteran nonprofit executive with decades of experience in organizational leadership, development, and public service, to its Board of Directors. Aranki joins ADC at a pivotal moment in the organization's nearly five-decade history. Since October 7, 2023, ADC has confronted an escalating set of threats targeting Arab Americans and supporters of Palestinian rights, as government agencies, universities, elected officials, and private organizations have increasingly used laws and institutional policies to restrict speech, punish dissent, and challenge constitutionally protected activity. In response, ADC has placed strategic impact litigation at the center of its mission. "ADC has spent nearly half a century as a pillar of the Arab American community, defending our rights through some of the most consequential moments in our history," said Dr. Safa Rifka, National Chairman of ADC. "Today, we are building on that legacy by expanding ADC into an even stronger legal force capable of taking on major constitutional battles nationwide. Gina brings decades of experience building and strengthening institutions, and that expertise will be invaluable as we grow ADC's capacity, reach, and impact." "The cases we litigate on Palestine, freedom of speech, search and seizure, and government overreach may begin as individual violations, but left unchecked they become the seeds of a cancer that poisons our democracy and the very institutions meant to protect us," said Jenin Younes, ADC President and Legal Director. "Our work is about stopping that erosion before it becomes entrenched." Aranki has spent 25 years with Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, including nine years as Executive Director and 16 years leading development, fundraising, marketing, and grant writing. Her career has also included public service at the federal and local levels, as well as an appointment to the Michigan Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. "Civil rights have been at the core of my career and public service, beginning with my appointment to the Michigan Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights," said Gina Aranki. "But those rights can only be protected when the organizations fighting for them have the resources, structure, and institutional strength to sustain that work. ADC is one of the nation's most established Arab American civil rights institutions, with nearly half a century of history behind it. I look forward to helping strengthen and elevate this pillar of the Arab American community, particularly as ADC expands its legal mission under the leadership of seasoned litigator Jenin Younes and her team." That shift is already visible in ADC's growing litigation docket, which now spans some of the most consequential civil rights fights facing Americans. Among ADC's current cases are Blumenthal v. Mullin, challenging the government's seizure and attempted forensic search of journalist Max Blumenthal's phones; Chertok v. City of Medford, defending residents seeking to preserve a values-aligned local investment ordinance; Pacheco v. City of Miami Beach, a First Amendment challenge arising from government action against a resident over protected political speech; and Kupsh v. Regents of the University of California, involving UCLA's treatment of a PhD student engaged in pro-Palestine activism. Aranki's appointment comes as ADC continues to expand the legal and organizational capacity needed to pursue constitutional litigation nationwide. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is the largest Arab American civil rights organization in the United States, founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk. ADC takes on powerful institutions and interests that threaten Americans' constitutional rights and civil liberties. Its impact litigation and legal advocacy challenge government overreach, defend freedom of speech and dissent, and protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. ADC also works with national and international media to challenge discrimination, stereotypes, and misinformation, while ensuring Arab American perspectives are represented accurately and meaningfully in public debate.

The Arab Daily News

May 16th, 2026

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) welcomes two new board members.

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) welcomes two new board members. Discover more Newspapers Board additions bring decades of legal excellence and deep-rooted commitment to Arab American civil rights. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) today announces the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Johnny Simon, a nationally recognized trial attorney, and Cheryl Faris, a veteran civil rights advocate and ADC leader. Both appointments reflect ADC's ongoing commitment to strengthening its leadership with individuals who possess the legal acumen, community ties, and principled advocacy that the organization's mission demands. "At a time when our community faces some of the most serious civil rights challenges in a generation, it is essential that ADC's Board reflect the very best in legal talent, lived experience, and unwavering dedication to our mission," said Dr. Safa Rifka, National Chairman of the ADC. "Johnny and Cheryl each bring extraordinary credentials and a deep personal connection to the values that have always defined this organization. We are honored to welcome them." As allowed in the organization's bylaws, the two members have been appointed to the board for one-year terms. Simon is a nationally recognized trial attorney with a reputation for results in some of the most complex and consequential cases in the country. He has taken on Fortune 500 companies, hospital systems, and national insurers in state and federal courtrooms, and his work has been cited in national and international media for the change his cases help bring about as well as the results. Raised in a Lebanese community in Fall River, Mass., Faris practiced law for 25 years at an international telecommunications company, then transitioned to teaching law and psychology at a college-prep high school in West Los Angeles, where she founded an award-winning mock trial program. She served on the Southern Christian Leadership Council's Executive Committee in Los Angeles, was the first woman president of the Arab-American Lawyers' Association, and currently sits on the board of Impro Theatre. Her ADC involvement dates to 1982, when she met Alex Odeh and Jim Zogby at an early LA event. She joined the local Board in 1983, was elected to the National Board in 1984, and served until 2000. Following Alex Odeh's assassination in 1985, she organized a memorial fundraiser for his family. She has served on the Los Angeles Board for five years and remains active with the annual Odeh Banquet. Her commitment to ADC is unwavering. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the United States, founded in 1980 by former U.S. Senator James Abourezk. ADC's mission is to defend and promote the human rights, civil rights, and liberties of the more than 3.7 million Arab Americans residing in the United States. Through legal advocacy, education, rapid-response campaigns, and community organizing, ADC fights discrimination, enhances public understanding of Arab history and culture, and partners with marginalized communities globally to advance social justice. For legal assistance, contact ADC's Legal Hotline at 844-ADC-9955. For more information, visit adc.org.

Fox News

Apr 29th, 2026

Rashida Tlaib slams anti-israel Arab group over handling of sexual harassment claims.

Rashida Tlaib slams anti-israel Arab group over handling of sexual harassment claims. Tlaib accused the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of failing to address misconduct involving multiple women. Hasan Piker, an anti-Israel streamer, justifies the alleged murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson as 'social murder.' Fox News analyst Guy Benson criticizes Democrats for aligning with Piker, citing his past comments on 9/11 and Hamas. The leadership of a prominent Arab-American advocacy group active in anti-Israel campus protests is under fire after Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., blasted the group over past sexual harassment allegations, while a former board member says he was ousted after raising harassment concerns with the DC attorney general's office. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), one of the country's oldest Arab-American civil rights organizations, came under renewed scrutiny after former board member Dr. Ed Hasan filed a formal complaint on April 22 outlining concerns about the organization's internal handling of allegations. Tlaib said she was sexually harassed while working for the group early in her career and has accused the organization of failing to properly address the issue, renewing attention to longstanding allegations in a recent video posted to social media. The group has played a visible role in campus protests tied to the Israel-Hamas war, including providing legal support and advocacy for student demonstrators. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., speaks with union activists about free speech on college campuses at the Capitol in Washington, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Hasan, a Georgetown University adjunct lecturer, said he filed a formal derivative demand on April 22 seeking corrective action - including the removal of board leadership - and shared those concerns with the attorney general's office. He said he raised concerns about harassment and governance failures and expected an independent investigation, but instead alleged the organization conducted an internal review and removed him from his board position within days, which he described as retaliation. Hasan also criticized how the review was handled, saying the board investigated the matter internally despite his objections that it should be handled by an independent third party, creating what he described as a conflict of interest. "A board cannot investigate itself," he said. "Since then, additional survivors have shared deeply painful experiences with me, making it clear that these are not isolated incidents but part of a systemic problem," he added. Fox News Digital has not independently verified those claims. "In my professional view, meaningful change will require the resignation of the current board and the creation of a community-driven interim transitional board to rebuild trust and safety," he added. In a public statement, ADC said it had been reviewing concerns raised "across various platforms" and acknowledged that some allegations reference incidents from more than a decade ago. "Because we recognize that the passage of time does not erase harm, we reiterate our previous apology sincerely and without reservation," the organization said. ADC added that it maintains a "zero-tolerance policy for harassment" and warned against the spread of misinformation, saying it would defend itself against "false claims." Tlaib described her experience working at the group's Michigan office early in her career in a video posted to social media last week. She said she was sexually harassed while working at the organization and that the alleged misconduct later escalated to involve multiple women, with more than two dozen individuals coming forward with similar accounts. Anti-Israel students occupy a central lawn at Columbia University in New York City on April 21, 2024, as part of a campus protest. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee has played a visible role in campus protests tied to the Israel-Hamas war, including providing legal support and advocacy for student demonstrators. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images) Tlaib accused the organization of failing to properly address the allegations, saying the individual accused of misconduct "didn't get fired" and was instead "paid... to just go away." She also suggested leadership sought to minimize the issue, saying they "threw it under the rug." Tlaib said she spoke out again after discovering the organization was using her image on its website. "Shame on you for using the image of a victim of your organization and continuation of a toxic work environment. You all haven't changed," Tlaib wrote. "I stand with all of ADC's survivors who were shamed instead of protected and believed," she added. The allegations referenced by Tlaib were publicly reported more than a decade ago, when multiple women came forward with claims of misconduct involving a senior staffer, distinguishing them from Hasan's more recent governance-related claims. Other activists have echoed similar criticisms. Palestinian-American political analyst Omar Baddar, who previously led a regional ADC chapter, said he stood with Tlaib outside an ADC event 13 years ago, demanding accountability over sexual harassment allegations involving a senior staffer. Fox News Digital has not independently verified those claims. It is not clear whether any criminal charges were filed in connection with the past allegations. ADC referred Fox News Digital to a statement posted on its social media accounts when asked for additional comment. Fox News Digital has also reached out to Rep. Rashida Tlaib's office and the attorney general's office for comment. Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.