Voices of Valor will take center stage at CAIR-NY’s 26th Annual Gala on October 12th at World’s Fair Marina, representing the strength, resilience, and courage of our community. This year, the gala is dedicated to those who have stood firm against intimidation and discrimination for their solidarity with Palestine, honoring both the voices of the past and those actively shaping a future rooted in hope, justice, and unity. These voices have come together to overcome challenges, advocating for justice and understanding. The theme draws on the rich symbolism of the olive, a timeless emblem of peace and resilience, and the simplicity of paint strokes, which convey clarity and purpose.
We recognize not only the voices that have come before but also those continuing to build a future of justice, hope, and solidarity.
Please get your tickets and register here before it sells out!
With Gratitude to Our Sponsors!
Norman G. Finkelstein - Political Scientist and Scholar
Norman G. Finkelstein received his PhD from the Princeton University Politics Department in 1987. He is the author of many books that have been translated into 60 foreign editions, including THE HOLOCAUST INDUSTRY: Reflections on the exploitation of Jewish suffering, GAZA: An inquest into its martyrdom, and most recently, I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get To It: Heretical thoughts on identity politics, cancel culture, and academic freedom. In the year 2020, Finkelstein was named the fifth most influential political scientist in the world.
Dr. Hatem Bazian - Islamic Scholar
Dr. Hatem Bazian is a scholar of religion, politics, and globalization whose field specialties include Islamic Law, Awqaf and Fatawa Texts, Classical Arabic, Palestine, Islamophobia, Diaspora and Comparative Immigration, American Law and Society, Arab and Arab American Studies, Race Theory and History, Colonialism, Post-Colonial and De-colonial Studies, Ethnic Studies, Multi-Cultural and Cross-Cultural Studies, International Relations and Globalization, Social and Political Movement, Comparative Liberation Theologies, Languages, and Media.
Dr. Bazian earned his PhD at UC Berkeley in Near Eastern Studies in 2000. His PhD thesis, titled “Al-Quds in Islamic Consciousness: A Textual Survey of Muslim Claims and Rights to the Sacred City,” contributes to better understanding of Muslim attachment and informed political attitudes toward the sacred city of Jerusalem and Palestine in general.
Abdullah Akl - Political Strategist & Organizer Speaking on Law Enforcement Abuse of Protesters
As a lead organizer of protests, Abdullah Akl has seen civil rights abuses firsthand by law enforcement against protesters. Come Hear his story!
Abdullah Akl is an accomplished organizer and political strategist based in New York City. With a deep commitment to justice, Abdullah has played a key role in mobilizing communities around causes such as Black Lives Matter and the Palestinian liberation movement. His advocacy extends to organisations like UNICEF and the Muslim American Society, where he has been instrumental in addressing injustices and promoting equity and inclusion.
Abdullah is also a member of Within Our Lifetime, a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting a free Palestine. He holds a double Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Relations from Long Island University Brooklyn and is currently completing a Master’s in Government at Harvard University.
Hesen Jabr - BSN, RNC-OB, Speaking on Employment Discrimination
As a registered nurse, Hesen Jabr has experienced firsthand employment discrimination for advocating for empathy for Palestinians. Come hear her story!
Hesen Jabr is a Palestinian American raised in the Deep South during her childhood, with her teenage years spent in Beit Hanina, Palestine with her mother and 3 siblings. After her family was forced to move back to the States, Hesen completed high school and attended college in Tennessee, where she received her bachelors of science in nursing.
Hesen has worked as an RN since 2012 in various specialities, the longest of which she spent in labour and delivery. With her versatile upbringing, her background in healthcare, and her passion in social justice, Hesen credits her parents who instilled these values in her.
Hesen currently lives in New York State with her mother and enjoys staying engaged in various humanitarian endeavours and local hikes.
Maryam Shuaib - Student Organizer, Speaking on Campus Repression
As a political activist, Maryam Shuaib has navigated the complexities of advocating for Palestinian rights while serving as the first Muslim and Palestinian Student Body President at St. Francis College her senior year. Come hear her story!
Maryam Shuaib recently graduated from St. Francis College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with minors in Human Rights and Economics. During her fourth year, she served as St. Francis College’s first Muslim and Palestinian Student Body President.
As an academic, Maryam has researched, written, and presented human rights campaigns aiming to optimize Palestinian education through STEM and business initiatives. Most recently, she concluded her undergraduate thesis, which discusses the dichotomy of Palestine’s national identity in the wake of occupation and apartheid. Additionally, Maryam’s political analysis on refugee status amongst Palestinians was published by the National Students for Justice in Palestine’s first ever issue of their Written Resistance newsletter in September of 2023.