Young Libyan Americans in Southland discuss situation in Libya

At a news conference Friday at the Islamic Center of Southern California, young Libyan-Americans gave their takes on the uprising in Libya.

Irvine-based communications professional Dina Duella works with Trans Terra Media, a group trying to democratize media in the Middle East. She says as in Egypt and Tunisia, young people are the catalyst for the uprising in Libya, often using social media in a dangerous environment.

"I actually spoke to a friend in Tripoli who said that he’s risking his life just by being on Facebook, and that he could be picked up at any time," said Duella

Duella was born in Los Angeles 26 years ago, but her parents came to the Southland from Libya in the 1970s and '80s. The parents of activist Omar Khalifa arrived in Ohio about the same time. He says after watching news reports and images of peaceful protestors dying at the hands of militias, the U.S. and its allies can’t sit idly by.

"They must take immediate action to prevent further loss of life by imposing a no-fly zone over Libya," he said. Khalifa is active with the Arab American Caucus of the California Democratic Party.

Khalifa said Libyan-American groups are organizing humanitarian aid shipments to Libya.

The news conference they spoke at was co-sponsored by the Muslim Public Affairs Council, which is also sponsoring a forum Sunday morning 11 a.m. at the Islamic Center, titled "The New Middle East: Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Beyond."