FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2025
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Speakers include Bassem Youssef, Mehdi Hasan, Rep. Ro Khanna, Ana Kasparian, Cenk Uygur, Linda Sarsour, Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi, Rania Khalek, Ali Abunimah, Mosab Abu Toha, Mahmoud Khalil, Chris Smalls, Dr. Abdul El‑Sayed, Medea Benjamin, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, and more.
Washington, D.C | ADC released its full program for ArabCon 2025, returning to Dearborn from September 25–28 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. This year marks 45 years of ADC’s service to the community—defending the rights of Arab Americans, preserving our nation’s democratic values, and celebrating our contributions to U.S. society.
ArabCon 2025’s theme—“We’ve Been Here Before”—centers the resilience, wisdom, and enduring strength of Arab Americans as the community confronts familiar cycles of censorship, historical erasure, and prejudice. The convention gathers artists, journalists, scholars, elected officials, organizers, and industry leaders to build solidarity across communities and chart a shared path toward justice.
“ArabCon brings our community – and our allies – into one room to speak frankly about power, dignity, and rights,” said Abed Ayoub, ADC National Executive Director. “We’ve been here before, and we know how to meet the moment: organize, tell the truth, protect each other, and never give up or be intimidated. History is on our side.”
“For 45 years, ADC has built institutions that safeguard civil rights and celebrate Arab American life,” said Dr. Safa Rifka, ADC National Chairman. “ArabCon 2025 invites the country to witness our leadership—across law, media, culture, business, and public service—and to join us in forging coalitions that can outlast any government administration or cycles of repression.”
Program Highlights
ArabCon 2025 features a powerhouse lineup of activists and truth-tellers—Zeteo’s Mehdi Hasan, comedian Bassem Youssef, Linda Sarsour, Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi, Breakthrough News’ Rania Khalek, Electronic Intifada’s Ali Abunimah, The Young Turks’ Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian, Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Mosab Abu Toha, and more.
For ArabCon’s 2025 FULL PROGRAM, please click HERE.
Panels include:
- Unfiltered with Ana Kasparian, Linda Sarsour & Hazami Barmada examines speaking truth to power, confronting censorship, and defending the right to dissent.
- We’re Not Kidding pairs Mehdi Hasan and Bassem Youssef for a sharp, no‑holds‑barred live conversation that fuses political analysis with biting satire.
- Beyond Propaganda with Rania Khalek and Ali Abunimah spotlights independent media that breaks censorship and preserves historical truth.
- Under Siege: Law, Rights, and the Genocide in Gaza with Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi, Abdelhamid Siyam, Said Arikat explores human rights, accountability, and international solidarity.
- A Reading with Mosab Abu Toha brings poetry that transforms memory into permanence and carries Gaza’s voice into eternity.
- Bodies on the Line: From Influence to Power features renowned movement leaders Medea Benjamin, Mahmoud Khalil, and Chris Smalls to discuss how to convert influence into durable power.
Press Registration
- Complete the press registration form HERE. Sign up does not guarantee entry.
- Wait for a confirmation email from ADC with next steps.
- Bring a government‑issued ID and your confirmation email to on‑site check‑in to receive credentials.
- For interview requests with ArabCon speakers and attendees, email Ellie Yousif ([email protected]). ADC will confirm availability as scheduling allows.