02/17/2026
During his 1988 presidential campaign, Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition offered Arab Americans a rare national platform where their priorities, from civil and immigrant rights to Palestinian human rights, entered mainstream political debate.
Arab American delegates organized, registered voters, advanced resolutions, and helped move long-marginalized issues onto the national stage.
Among them was Ruth Ann Skaff, a Lebanese American. Her appointment to the Democratic National Committee marked one of the earliest known instances of Arab American representation at that level of national party leadership.
Ruth Ann said that the Arab American delegates for Jesse Jackson carried signs and wore stickers with Palestine on them during the 1988 convention, and they staged a large, effective floor demonstration in coalition with African American, peace, and Latina/o organizations.
Arab Americans felt seen by the Jackson campaign, and were thrilled that Palestine was given due attention at the convention.
We thank Rev. Jesse Jackson for his commitment to communities historically excluded from political power, including Arab American and MENA communities.
We honor his legacy by continuing the work he championed.
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