ACT For America

OVERVIEW

ACT for America is the largest grassroots anti-Muslim organization in the United States, founded in 2007 by Brigitte Gabriel (born Hanan Qahwaji in Lebanon). Originally called "American Congress for Truth," the organization claims to "educate citizens and elected officials to impact policy involving national security and defeating terrorism." The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has designated ACT for America as an anti-Muslim hate group since 2016.

KEY FIGURES

Brigitte Gabriel (Founder/Chairman) — Born in the Marjayoun region of Lebanon, Gabriel emigrated to the US and positions herself as a survivor of the Lebanese Civil War. She is the author of Because They Hate (2006) and They Must Be Stopped (2008). Gabriel has made sweeping statements about Muslims that civil rights groups have documented as broadly anti-Muslim rather than narrowly focused on extremism. She was photographed in the White House during the early Trump administration.

Guy Rodgers — Served as Executive Director, previously worked in Republican political organizing.

FUNDING & FINANCES

ACT for America operates as a 501(c)(4) organization, which means it is not required to publicly disclose its donors. It also operates a 501(c)(3) arm for educational activities. Annual revenue has been reported in the range of $4-6 million at peak years.

Documented funding connections include Donors Capital Fund / Donors Trust — described as a "dark money ATM" for conservative causes. The Center for American Progress' "Fear, Inc." report identified ACT as part of the broader Islamophobia funding network with overlapping donors across several organizations.

NETWORK CONNECTIONS

• Center for Security Policy (Frank Gaffney) — Significant ideological overlap; Gaffney and Gabriel appear at each other's events
• David Horowitz Freedom Center — Shared platforms and audiences
• Clarion Project — ACT has distributed and screened Clarion's films at events
• Middle East Forum — Institutional support and funding network overlap
• State-level policy networks — ACT works with state legislators to introduce "anti-Shariah" bills, overlapping with ALEC activity

KEY ACTIVITIES

Legislative Campaigns: ACT has been the primary grassroots driver pushing state legislatures to pass "American Laws for American Courts" bills banning foreign or religious law. Variants have been introduced in dozens of states. The organization also led opposition to Syrian refugee resettlement (2015-2017).

Chapter Network: ACT claims over 1,000 chapters nationwide, though independent verification is difficult.

June 2017 "March Against Sharia" Rallies: Organized in multiple US cities, these rallies attracted participation from far-right and white nationalist groups. ACT officially disavowed them but critics noted this as a recurring pattern.

Law Enforcement Training: ACT has conducted briefings for law enforcement that civil rights organizations argue promote religious profiling.

DESIGNATIONS

• SPLC: Designated as an anti-Muslim hate group (2016). Gabriel individually identified as an anti-Muslim extremist figure.
• ADL: Profiled critically as the largest grassroots anti-Muslim organization in the US.