Standing with Our Members in Challenging Times

We have witnessed the recent and deeply distressing events in Israel and Gaza, including the horrific violence perpetrated by Hamas against Israeli civilians and the desperate situation faced by the population of Gaza. We also mourn the loss of 32 fellow Americans. In light of these events, I want to take a moment to express our unwavering commitment to the security and well-being of our Arab-American and Jewish-American members, both at home and abroad.

AFSA is acutely aware that these are challenging and unsettling times, not only in the United States but across the globe. These events have provided a pretext for those who propagate hate and intolerance, causing members of your communities to endure harassment, intimidation, and assault. It is evident from the events in Israel and Gaza that incidents of anti-Arab and antisemitic acts are on the rise.

If you have experienced anything that has threatened your security or well-being, please let us know at member@afsa.org.  Please also report any acts of discrimination, bias or threats against you in the workplace to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/secretary-of-state/office-of-civil-rights/ and hate crimes to the FBI at https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/report-hate-crimes-to-the-fbi/view. We also encourage you to contact the State Department MED Office of Employee Consultative Services (ECS), which offers free, confidential counseling with professional clinical social workers to you and your family members at MEDECS@state.gov or 202-634-4874. 

For our USAID members, please report any acts of discrimination, bias, or threats against you in the workplace to the USAID Office of Civil Rights (OCR) through the Misconduct Portal through LaunchPad at https://usaiditsm.servicenowservices.com/launchpad?id=misconduct_homepage or via email at eeocomplaints@usaid.gov or ocrharassment@usaid.gov.

AFSA has reached out to members of the Arab Americans in Foreign Affairs Agencies (AAIFAA), American Muslims and Friends at State (AMFAS), and Jewish Americans in Diplomacy (JAD) employee organizations at the State Department.  We want to hear their concerns firsthand and what AFSA can do to help.  

We have also engaged with the Department to ensure that our members serving in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have access to authorized departure for all eligible family members and non-essential U.S. direct hires. Embassy Beirut is now on authorized departure as well. We are also monitoring the security and well-being of our Locally Employed Staff (LES) at these posts and elsewhere. We will continue to keep close watch on events and potential impacts on our diplomatic posts and members throughout the region. 

Tom Yazdgerdi

AFSA President