Representatives of the Congress of Arab American Organizations  (CAAO) met in Dearborn July 25 at the request of the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) to address accusations that a local judge made disparaging remarks about Arab Americans.

Judge Richard Wygonik of 19th District Court allegedly made the comments during a private conversation with Dearborn Heights City Councilman Tom Berry, whom the judge may not have known is himself an Arab American.

The group of about 18 community leaders appointed a committee of five to meet with Wygonik to discuss the issue.

The five chosen representatives of CAAO were Kalid Shajrah, Osama Siblani, Ali Belaid, Imad Hamad and Michael Berry.

Attorney Noel Saleh, who Wygonik has retained to help guide him through the crisis, appeared at the meeting and distributed a statement. Saleh was asked to step away from the proceedings so that the leaders could speak privately and decide how to engage Wygonik.

In the statement, Wygonik admitted to making comments critical of fugitive former Dearborn businessman Talal Chahine, but denied, as asserted by Tom Berry, making general or specific negative remarks about Arab American parents of Fordson High and Salina School students. The statement makes no apologies.

Shajrah said that if Berry’s accusations are true, which most at the meeting believed them to be, the comments must have come from some deep-rooted feelings toward people of Arab descent. The thought, he said, that a judge whom Arab Americans appear in front of every day may have such hidden biases, is disturbing and needs to be addressed.

Siblani said that since the meeting, Wygonik and Saleh have not yet responded to a request for a subsequent meeting with the five selected leaders.