FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2025
[email protected]
Anaheim, CA | On the 40th anniversary of Alex Odeh’s assassination, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) welcomes the FBI’s renewed public appeal for information and notes the Justice Department’s ongoing $1,000,000 reward for tips leading to arrest and conviction. The appeal aligns with ADC’s efforts to elevate the case, including a billboard in Times Square, NYC, above Pedestrian Plaza, at the intersection of W 43rd St and Broadway.
“Forty years is far too long for a family and a community to wait. We welcome the FBI’s renewed call and the reaffirmed $1,000,000 reward, but a renewed appeal must translate into concrete action,” said Abed Ayoub, ADC National Executive Director. “Alex was a beloved Palestinian-American civil rights leader murdered on U.S. soil. Equal justice under law requires equal urgency—no exceptions, no double standards.”
“Our Times Square billboard is a message to the nation’s largest public square: we are not moving on, and we will not let this case fade. We are ready to work with federal and local partners, and we urge anyone with information, no matter how small, to step forward,” continued Ayoub. “For Alex’s family, and for every American who believes in the rule of law, accountability is not optional—it’s overdue.”
Odeh was killed when a bomb detonated as he opened the door to ADC’s Santa Ana office on October 11, 1985. The case remains open. The FBI has reiterated its public appeal for information from anyone who may have knowledge relevant to the investigation. Members of the public can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
Who was Alex Odeh?
Alexander Michel “Alex” Odeh (1944–1985) was a husband, father of three daughters, poet, and the West Coast Regional Director of ADC. Born in Jifna near Ramallah, he was part of the Al-Naksa generation whose lives were reshaped by the 1967 war. Prevented from returning home afterward, Alex lived in Amman before immigrating to the United States, where he made a life with his sister nearby and built community in Southern California.
Alex believed deeply in “suit-and-tie” civic engagement. He served on a local Human Rights Commission, supported electoral candidates, and wrote frequent letters to public officials and news outlets. His public work focused on improving Arab-American representation in media and politics, countering anti-Arab stereotyping, and building unity among Jews, Muslims, and Christians. In the days before his murder, he appeared on television to discuss these views and was scheduled to speak at a synagogue in Fountain Valley on the day he was killed.
He never stopped rooting himself in the community he loved. Even as he endured death threats and took precautions at home and at the office, Alex stayed visible and optimistic about America’s promise of free speech, dignity, and equal protection. His life reflected a steady conviction: change is made through principled dialogue, public service, and the rule of law.
If you have information related to the murder of Alex Odeh, please contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324 or your nearest FBI office.