The Arab American Arts Council and the American Friends Service Committee got permission from the Illinois Governor's office to exhibit a Palestinian display of history, art and culture this week at the Thompson State of Illinois Center in Chicago. The exhibit included a three panel display developed by AFSC which highlights Palestinian arts, dance, food and architecture, which has been displayed in Chicago -area public schools this year.

The exhibit also included a collection of photographs developed by Sabeel, an ecumenical Christian organization based in Jerusaelm, that follows the Palestinian experience from 1948 to 1998. The Sabeel exhibit consists of 50 photographs which were installed on display boards in the Thompson Center Monday morning.

Within an hour of the installation (AAAC staff were in the basement of the building eating lunch), the exhibit was taken apart by a staff person from the Governor's office who said they had already received complaints about the exhibit. Of the 50 photographs, 8 generic photos were "allowed" to represent the Palestinian history. The three-panel arts and crafts exhibit also was allowed to stay up.

We encourage you to contact Governor George Ryan's office (100 W. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601; phone: (312-814-2121) and say you are aware that they did not allow the full exhibit of Palestinian history and culture to be displayed in the building. Please thank them for agreeing to allow space for the Palestinian display, but register your strong opposition that they chose to censor many important images of the Palestinian experience. We understand they are making note of all calls.

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