Community Category
One Year Ago
Posted on June 27, 2019 Leave a Comment
One year ago today, I stood before the U.S. Supreme Court and gave a speech hours after SCOTUS ruled to uphold the Muslim Ban. It was one of the hardest days both personally and professionally, though I wasn’t supposed to be surprised about the decision. Just a couple days before the ruling was announced, I […]
“We Are Tired.”
Posted on October 18, 2017 Leave a Comment
Yesterday afternoon I spoke at a press conference minutes after our hearing about an injunction to block Muslim Ban 3.0. This week has been one of the toughest in my professional career. I began the week receiving dozens of emails from people around the world who were afraid of what the ban would do to […]
Solidarity in the Face of the Ban
Posted on January 25, 2017 Leave a Comment
We await news of Trump’s series of anti-immigration Executive Orders, which will likely include plans to build a wall and place a ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries, including my country of origin Iran. Trump’s ban will target individuals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. As Moustafa Bayoumi explains, author of How Does It Feel to Be a Problem?: Being […]
In Memory of Abe
Posted on August 25, 2016 Leave a Comment
Today marks the second anniversary of the death of Abe Pishevar, a beloved member and graduate of Camp Ayandeh. I had the distinct privilege of knowing Abe and watching him grow for two summers. Like other adults in Abe’s life, I was constantly in awe of the level of maturity and compassion he demonstrated. I […]
Four Ways You Can Support Refugees
Posted on August 23, 2016 Leave a Comment
Months after images of a demolished Aleppo circulated the media, people finally took notice because of one child’s blank and bloodied stare. The image of Omran Daqneesh, a five-year-old boy pulled out of Aleppo’s rubble was posted late Wednesday night. Within hours, every major media outlet, including CNN and even Fox News, shared the heartbreaking […]
Why “Persian of Color”
Posted on August 18, 2016 Leave a Comment
Welcome to Persian of Color, an online platform where I will share my concerns with race and identity, primarily within the Iranian-American community, but also within a global perspective. I self-identify as a person of color, an opinion not always shared by other Iranians.”Person of color” refers to someone who does not identify as white and […]
