Linda Sarsour to leave post at Arab American Association to pursue “national” activism

High-profile Bay Ridge political activist Linda Sarsour announced in a letter to supporters on Tuesday, February 21 that, after 11 years, she will be stepping down as executive director of the Ridge-based Arab American Association of New York to pursue a more “national” agenda.

Sarsour, whose profile has been heightened since signing on as one of four key organizers of last month’s historic Women’s March on Washington, held the day after the presidential inauguration, plans to remain active within the Arab-American community in Brooklyn, but also become more active on a “national level.”

“We are in a critical moment as a country and I feel compelled to focus my energy on the national level and building the capacity of the progressive movement,” wrote Sarsour, “so it is with a heavy heart that I announce that I will be leaving my post as the executive director of the Arab American Association of New York.”

Furthermore, she said, she will be “traveling the country training organizers and local Arab and Muslim communities in effective campaigning and movement-building,” and may even pen her first book.

Since her announcement, Sarsour has taken to Facebook to proclaim that she is feeling “blessed.”

“We all have so much to be thankful for,” she wrote. “Sometimes it just requires for us to sit and reflect and we realize we have been missing out on all the blessings.”

Founded in 2001 by a group of Arab-American civic leaders in Bay Ridge, the Arab American Association of New York’s mission is to “support and empower the Arab Immigrant and Arab American community by providing services to help them adjust to their new home and become active members of society,” according to its website.

Its headquarters are located at 7111 Fifth Avenue.