Arab Resources and Organizing Center (AROC) is a left-of-center legal aid and activist group that provides immigration legal assistance to Palestinian and Arab immigrants and opposes the Israeli government. The group is sponsored by the Tides Center.

It mobilized support for Gaza following the October 2023 attack against Israel by Hamas and organized several protests and promoted high-school student walkouts in the San Francisco Bay area . It also issued a statement calling for a boycott of Israel and to “abolish apartheid, Zionism, and fascism in our homeland.” ^{1 2}

Background

Arab Resources and Organizing Center was created in 2004 to conduct political and community organizing in Arab and Muslim communities in northern California. The group has a particular focus on supporting Palestine and supporting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel. ^{3 4}

The center is a fiscally sponsored project of the Tides Center, a nonprofit arm of the Tides Foundation as part of the larger Tides Nexus, which has created, funded, and housed dozens of left-of-center advocacy groups. ⁵

Activity and Stances

Arab Resources and Organizing Center supports “the self-determination of our people under attack in Palestine, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and across the entire SWANA (South West Asia and North African) region” and asserts that struggles in the United States and abroad are a direct result of “domestic manifestation of global militarism and racial capitalism.” The group provides legal services, mostly regarding immigration, to lower-income Arabs and Muslims in the San Francisco Bay area. It also functions as an advocacy arm, operates an Arab Youth Organizing center and youth programs, and hosts a variety of protests. ⁶

The group also has stated a commitment to developing interventions to “heal the generational trauma grown from patriarchy and white supremacy.” ⁷

Israel-Hamas War of 2023

Arab Resources and Organizing Center came out strongly in support of Gaza and Palestinians in the wake of the terrorist group Hamas massacring hundreds of Israelis in early October 2023. The center has opposed to the existence of Israel and issued a fiery statement calling for a free Palestine and for the abolition of “Zionism” in the region, likening the plight of Gaza to that of Ukrainians following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. ⁸

The San Francisco CBS affiliate reported that the group was rallying support for Gaza and preparing to assist a potential influx of immigrants from Gaza to the United States. ⁹

On October 18, 2023, the center called for school walkouts in support of Gaza, calling it a “national Day of Action.” According to the Jewish News of Northern California, the call “raised concerns among Bay Area Jews who fear the event will make Jewish and pro-Israel students feel isolated and vulnerable.” AROC publicized a walkout “toolkit” that included “a sample walkout plan and tips for talking to the media, including wording that students can use.” ¹⁰

1. “The Fight Against Israeli Apartheid Is A Fight for Freedom For Us All.” Arab Resources and Organizing Center. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://aroc.herokuapp.com/page/gaza/
2. “Pro-Palestinian group calls for school walkouts in S.F. and beyond on Wednesday.” Jewish News of Northern California. October 17, 2023. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://jweekly.com/2023/10/17/pro-palestinian-group-calls-for-school-walkouts-in-s-f-and-beyond-on-wednesday/
3. “15 Year Anniversary Celebration.” Arab Resources and Organizing Center. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://aroc.herokuapp.com/page/takkaful-15-year-anniversary-celebration-event/
4. “About.” Arab Resources and Organizing Center. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://aroc.herokuapp.com/about/
5. “Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC).” Tides. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://www.tides.org/project/fiscally-sponsored-project/arab-resource-organizing-center-aroc/
6. “About.” Arab Resources and Organizing Center. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://aroc.herokuapp.com/about/
7. “About.” Arab Resources and Organizing Center. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://aroc.herokuapp.com/about/
8. “The Fight Against Israeli Apartheid Is A Fight for Freedom for Us All.” Arab Resources and Organizing Center. October 10, 2023. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://aroc.herokuapp.com/page/gaza/
9. Martinez, Jose. “Bay Area Palestinian community mobilizes support for Gaza amidst violent conflict.” CBS Bay Area. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/bay-area-palestinian-community-mobilizes-support-for-gaza-amidst-violent-conflict/
10. “Pro-Palestinian group calls for school walkouts in S.F. and beyond on Wednesday.” Jewish News of Northern California. October 17, 2023. Accessed October 30, 2023. https://jweekly.com/2023/10/17/pro-palestinian-group-calls-for-school-walkouts-in-s-f-and-beyond-on-wednesday/