Alex Odeh: Still Waiting for Justice
Alex Odeh: Still Waiting for Justice
On October 11, 1985, Alex Odeh ADC’s Southern California Regional Director was killed when a powerful pipe bomb exploded as he unlocked and opened the door of the ADC office in Santa Ana, California. Alex, a published poet, lecturer of Arabic Language and Middle East history at Coastline College in Santa Ana, and tireless peace activist, dedicated his life to the defense of civil liberties at home, and civil and human rights abroad.
In addition to killing Alex, the bomb injured several other victims. The FBI's case into Alex Odeh’s murder remains open, with a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
However, no arrest has yet been made in spite of the fact that press reports have stated over the years that the FBI identified members of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) as suspects. None of the identified JDL individuals has ever been charged or prosecuted in connection with the murder, and some have fled to Israel.
ADC and the Arab American community are deeply troubled that the perpetrators have been at large for nearly three decades, despite all the available leads to resolving Alex’s murder. The lack of closure of Alex’s murder by the FBI and the Department of State (DOS) has been viewed as a sign that the life of an American civil rights advocate with Palestinian roots is not valued by the U.S. Government as much as other American lives.
ADC demands that the FBI and DOS show good faith by redoubling genuine efforts, and allocating necessary resources for resolving, once and for all, this domestic terrorism case.
ADC remembers Alex and continues to reinforce its demand that those responsible for his murder be brought to justice.
The Arab American community will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice.