DEARBORN – 19th District Court Judge Richard Wygonik has come under fire for allegedly making several disparaging comments about Arab Americans during a conversation with Dearborn Heights Councilman Tom Berry on July 10.

19th District Court Judge Richard Wygonik

Berry circulated details of the conversation in an email and told The Arab American News that while sitting in a Detroit restaurant following a celebratory event for Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s uncontested election campaign, Wygonik made offensive statements about Arab American parents and students of south and east Dearborn schools Salina and Fordson High.
Wygonik has benefited in past elections from Arab American voters and political action groups who campaigned for him.

“This is a very serious issue. We’re very disturbed. We were taken by surprise,” said Imad Hamad, regional director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).

“Judge Wygonik did have the support of the Arab American community. He appeared at various community events including ours.”

Osama Siblani, president of the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) and publisher of The Arab American News said, “We supported him in his election and he has acknowledged this. The AAPAC executive board will meet soon to discuss this issue and the steps that will be taken to respond.”

In the email that was circulated, Berry quotes the judge’s wife Adrenne Wygonik as having said, “Arab parents don’t know how to raise kids, letting them run around, starting trouble everywhere they go.”

He said the judge agreed, saying “Yeah, especially those from Salina and Fordson.”

In response to multiple calls and messages placed to Wygonik’s chambers, a statement from his spokesperson, Mike Murray, was faxed to the office of The Arab American News.

“The email is not an accurate reflection of what was discussed, either in tone or in substance,” read the statement.

“Judge Wygonik has close ties to Dearborn’s Arab community. He would not be judge today were it not for the overwhelming support he has received from the community. Judge Wygonik deeply values this relationship and will continue to serve all of Dearborn’s residents with dignity and respect.”

A phone call and message placed for Murray seeking further comment on what was inaccurate about the Berry’s account of the conversation was not returned.

Berry said Wygonik also made stereotypical references to former Dearborn businessman Talal Chahine, who owned the La Shish restaurant chain before fleeing the country after being indicted on tax evasion charges.

Berry said Wygonik called Chahine a “crook Arab terrorist.”

The statement sent by the Wygoniks’ spokesperson read “Judge Wygonik is saddened that an individual has misinterpreted his comments regarding a known fugitive from justice as an indictment of Dearborn’s Arab community.”

Hamad said ADC is writing a letter to Wygonik asking him to reach out to Arab American leaders and address the situation more completely.

“It’s not about debating the legal issues of Talal Chahine, it’s about the nature of the offensive and very biased remarks about the entire community and being very specific about the two schools,” he said.

“We have great concern because it’s coming from a court judge. Many of those who appear or practice before him are Arab American. If these allegations are true, what is the plight of the people appearing in his court?”

Hamad said he doesn’t believe Berry could have any motive for embellishing his account of the conversation.

“When you see another elected official attest to that, it gives it a more serious tone. I don’t think the two are competing for anything. They serve in two different offices in two different cities. There’s nothing to suggest that anything was exaggerated or fabricated.”

He said he hopes Wygonik and the community can avoid negative engagement and pursue some constructive way to address the situation.

“People make mistakes, but people are respected more when they admit their mistakes, apologize and do their best to correct the record,” Hamad said.

“If what Councilman Berry says proves to be true, we will ask for a full and unambiguous apology to the Arab American community,” said Siblani. “If he does not apologize, we will take further measures to protect the interests of our community and of those who stand before him in court.”

Berry said that during the conversation he tried talking to the Wygoniks about historical struggles of immigrant Irish, Jewish, Polish, Italian and Arab Americans as explanations of stereotypes and problems that arise.

He said that when the judge and his wife went on to refer to Arab Americans as having brought their “tribal ways” with them to the U.S., he excused himself from the table.

“I didn’t need to defend our people. We speak for ourselves,” he said. “And I didn’t need to argue with him… I should have sat there and let him bury himself more.”

Berry said he doesn’t think Wygonik was aware that the councilman himself is Arab American.

“I don’t think so. The way the conversation flowed – I was stunned. I’m from Salina. I’m from Fordson.”