28 Facts About Andy Shallal

Anas "Andy" Shallal was born on March 21,1955 and is an Iraqi-American artist, activist, philanthropist and entrepreneur.

Andy Shallal is best known as the founder and CEO of the Washington, DC, area restaurant, bookstore, and performance venue Busboys and Poets.

Andy Shallal is known for his opposition to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Andy Shallal was a candidate for the city's mayoral election in 2014.

Andy Shallal's father was Ambassador of the Arab League, a position he held until Saddam Hussein seized power, after which they could not return.

Andy Shallal graduated from Catholic University of America and later enrolled in Howard University medical school.

Andy Shallal worked as a researcher in medical immunology at the National Institutes of Health.

In 2017, Andy Shallal closed his stores for the day in solidarity with A Day Without Immigrants.

Andy Shallal is the founder of the Peace Ball inaugural balls.

Andy Shallal spoke about the significance of the recently opened museum.

Andy Shallal included in the evening's program a poem from Langston Hughes.

Andy Shallal always wanted to use Hurston as an inspiration for the restaurant.

Since the restaurants are across the street from each other, Andy Shallal sees it as a chance to reunite the two writers.

Andy Shallal is one of the co-founders of Think Local First Washington, DC.

Andy Shallal was honored at The DC Vote Champions of Democracy Awards Dinner on Tuesday, October 12,2010, for advocating for full, equal voting rights for DC.

Andy Shallal was named Man of the Year by the Washington Peace Center.

Andy Shallal was named "Democracy's Restaurateur" by Ralph Nader in a Washington Post article by David Montgomery.

Andy Shallal has founded or co-founded several peace movement organizations and holds leadership positions in numerous others.

Andy Shallal is a Peace Fellow with Seeds of Peace, and spokesperson for Education for Peace in Iraq Center.

Andy Shallal is a recipient of the United Nations Human Rights Community Award and has been named Man of the Year by the Washington Peace Center.

In 2005, Shallal spoke at the counter-inaugural of President George W Bush held at Malcolm X Park.

Andy Shallal is a Foreign Policy In Focus analyst for the left-leaning think tank Institute for Policy Studies and current board member serving as Treasurer.

On October 12,2010, Andy Shallal was awarded the Champions of Democracy Award by DCVote for his activism in support of voting rights for the people of the District of Columbia.

Andy Shallal is a member of Restaurant Opportunities Centers United which works to help improve wages and working conditions for restaurant workers.

Andy Shallal painted the mural at the headquarters of the Institute for Policy Studies on 16th street NW, which depicts the story of IPS and social movements in which it has been involved.

Andy Shallal painted the civil rights movement-themed mural at Busboys and Poets, called Peace in Struggle Wall.

Andy Shallal refuses to sign the civil rights mural at Busboys, saying this would be a "final gesture" that would preclude him from making revisions later.

Andy Shallal's most recent mural, created in August 2013, is at the new Anthony Bowen YMCA, where he is a board member.