American Freedom Alliance

The American Freedom Alliance is according to its own account a 'non-political, non partisan, movement of concerned Americans which identifies threats to western civilization. American Freedom Alliance Home page, accessed 28 April 2009 It has a European version the European Freedom Alliance and its members are also involved in a number of anti-Islamist organisations such as CounterJihad Europa and the International Free Press Society.
It is a key member of the counterjihad movement.
==Events==
==='Islam and Western civilization: Can they coexist?' conference, August 2016=== 
In August 2016 AFA held a one-day conference 'Islam and Western civilization: Can they coexist?', in Los Angeles. The 19 speakers included:
Pamela Geller | Robert Spencer, former US ambassador John Bolton (keynote) | Andrew Bostom | Nonie Darwish | Mort Klein | Trevor London | Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff | Philippe Karsenty | Guy Millière, | James Simpson and the Hon. Pete Hoekstra | Frank Gaffney, | Admiral James Lyons | Daniel Greenfield and Stephen Coughlin | Wafa Sultan | Bosch Fawstin ('creator of the anti-Islamic superhero Pigman') Henrik Clausen, Gates of Vienna and [www.journalistenwatch.com Journalistenwatch] 
Henrik Clausen from Gates of Vienna reported: 
:'At this one-day conference in Los Angeles, California, the local chapter of American Freedom Alliance presented a record-setting list of 19 ‘Islamophobic’ speakers talking about the current state of things between the West and Islam.'
Most speakers addressed three topics: 
*Islam in the Culture: Nonie Darwish, Mort Klein, Bosch Fawstin, Trevor London, and Lt. Col. White
*Islam on the Move: Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff, Philippe Karsenty, Guy Millière, James Simpson and the Hon. Pete Hoekstra
*Islam as a National and Global Security Threat: Frank Gaffney, Admiral James Lyons, Daniel Greenfield and Stephen Coughlin
Keynote speakers included:
* Wafa Sultan, who had not given a public speech in five years, 'urgently asking everyone to stop the developments and prevent more countries from falling into chaos like her native Syria', 
*Ambassador John Bolton who spoke 'at length about how American influence is being destroyed, how enemies of the US are filling that gap, and what can be done about it'.
Topics also included the US 2016 Presidential election: 
:'And in particular Donald Trump. Robert Spencer made the case that the mere fact that Trump mentions the problems and suggests meaningful solutions is bringing us forward very fast, that we can now discuss matters that were largely hidden just a year ago. By way of principle, the organizers would not recommend who to vote for, but some unruly audience members shouted “Trump, Trump!” when they had the opportunity.' Baron Bodissey, Islam and Western Civilization: Can They Coexist?, Gates of Vienna, August 31 2016, Accessed 28 September 2016. 
French writer Philippe Karsenty delivered a speech concerning jihad and the 'islamization' of Europe. He ended his speech by showing a picture of a woman he had seen during his trip to Abu Dhabi who was wearing a muzzle, and warned that this could be seen in France if 'islamists' weren't strictly regulated. He then gave an interview with Riposte Laïque where he repeated this story. It was disseminated in several newspapers, including Europe-Israël Interview de Philippe Karsenty : Après le voile, la burqa et le burkini, la muselière bientôt en France ?, Europe-Israel, Sep 01, 2016. Accessed 26 September 2016 , JSS News Philippe Karsenty : « Après le voile, la burqa et le burkini, la muselière bientôt en France ? », JSS News, 2 september 2016, accessed 26 September 2016 , the extreme-right newspaper Dreuz Après le voile, la burqa et le burkini, la muselière bientôt en France ?, Dreuz.info, 2 September 2016. Accessed 26 September 2016 and the Gates of Vienna website Baron Bodissey, Philippe Karsenty: The Next Step for Islam is Women With Muzzles, Gates of Vienna, September 4, 2016. Accessed 26 September 2016 
==Funding==
Grants received included:
===2013===
*Hochberg Family Foundation - $2,500
===2011===
*Fairbrook Foundation: $12,200 American Freedom Alliance: Funders], Conservative Transparency, accessed 20 October 2016. 
===2010===
*Fairbrook Foundation: $80,400 American Freedom Alliance: Funders], Conservative Transparency, accessed 20 October 2016. 
===2009===
*Fairbrook Foundation: $39,500
*Newton and Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust: $10,000 American Freedom Alliance: Funders], Conservative Transparency, accessed 20 October 2016. 
===2008===
*Newton and Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust: $9,000
*Fairbrook Foundation: $120,000
*Middle East Forum: $15,000 American Freedom Alliance: Funders], Conservative Transparency, accessed 20 October 2016. 
==People==
===Board of Directors===
As of September 2016: Karen Siegemund, PhD, Chairman | Michael Greer, President | John Hancock, First Vice President | Joe Peterson, Second Vice President | Howard Hyde, Third Vice President | William Becker | Dr. James Enstrom | Marcia Jacobs | Mark Shaw | Gary Aminoff - Communications Director | Olga Matlin | Dr. Matthew Malkan
Previous Board: Barak Lurie | Heidi N. Nietert | Shawn Steel | Dr. Robert Hamilton | David Horwatt
===Staff===
As of September 2016: Marc Franklin, Videography | Rich Brimer, Graphic Art
Previous Staff: Avi Davis - Executive Director and Senior Fellow | Rueben Gordon - Assistant Director | Sandy Krueger - Executive Assistant | Irma Widjojo - Secretarial Assistant | Elisa Vandernoot- researcher and Western Word Editor
===Intern===
Patrick Frost
===Fellows===
As of September 2016: 
*Avi Davis
*Diana West
*Ida Lichter
*John Sullivan
*John Hancock
*Nick Adams
*Michael Greer
*Douglas V. Gibbs
*Alan Myers
Previous:
*Avi Davis
*Robert Spencer
*Tashbih Sayeed
*Babu Susseelan
*Diana West (circa 2015)
*Charles C. Johnson is a senior fellow in Los Angeles (circa 2015)
*Ida Lichter (circa 2015)
==Affiliations==
*European Freedom Alliance
==Contact==
*Website: http://www.americanfreedomalliance.org
==Notes==
Category:United States
Category:Counterjihad
Category:Islam Critics