DEARBORN — Prominent attorney and civil rights leader, Nabih Ayad, was elected by unanimous decision to serve as co-chair of Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust (ALPACT) at its monthly meeting last Friday.

Nabih Ayad, ADC Advisory Board Chairman (R), and Shelli Weisberg, of the ACLU, during a monthly meeting of the Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust. Ayad was elected co-chair of the group Friday.  PHOTO: Delia Habhab

ALPACT is a coalition dedicated to enhancing understanding and trust between community and law enforcement at the federal, state, and local level. The group is made up of over 100 law enforcement and government agencies and community organizations. Among the government agencies involved are the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. Its community membership includes leaders from the Arab, African, Latino and Asian American communities.
Formed in 1999 by the Michigan Roundtable on Diversity and Inclusion (MRDI), the group holds monthly meetings and community forums that focus on issues like discriminatory law enforcement practices, racial profiling and citizen complaint processes. Representatives of both the community and law enforcement offer recommendations on how to better handle these types of issues and strategies on improving the relationship between the two groups are discussed. Since its inception, the group has received nation-wide recognition for its efforts in bridging the gap between law enforcement and local communities.

Ayad, who also serves as the chairman of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Michigan Advisory Board and an ADC National Board member, has had a long history of activism in the Arab American community. Last November, he was appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm to serve on the Commission on Arab and Chaldean American Affairs for the State of Michigan.

MRDI President, Thomas Costello, said that he is confident in Ayad’s abilities in leading the initiative for the next two years.

“When Nabih speaks, the passion and commitment he has for his community is evident,” Costello stated. “He is committed to ensuring social justice and protecting civil rights for all people, regardless of race, gender, or background. I have great confidence that he will provide excellent leadership for everyone involved.”

Ayad said that ALPACT is unique in that it serves as an opportunity for leaders in the Arab American community to voice the concerns of the countless individuals who have dealt with numerous issues with law enforcement agencies since 9/11.

“While ALPACT is important to the general community as a whole, it is particularly vital to Arab Americans,” stated Ayad. “Our community has been under intense scrutiny since the events of 9/11, and there are issues directly involving law enforcement agencies that need to be addressed.”

Ayad will co-chair the organization with Andy Arena, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s Detroit Division. Arena stated that while there were issues that he and Ayad differ on, he looks forward to working closely with him during the upcoming term.

“Nabih and I may not always agree, but I respect him greatly and he is a strong, vocal advocate for his cause,” Arena said.

Arena added that one of the ongoing challenges they will face will be addressing the Department of Justice’s new FBI guidelines, which have recently become a cause of great concern within the Arab American community.

ADC Michigan Regional Director, Imad Hamad, said that ALPACT’s commitment to dialogue is the first step to effecting change. ADC Michigan has worked closely with the group on various initiatives involving the Arab American community.

“ALPACT has always been an instrumental tool in addressing issues of broad concern to all Americans,” stated Hamad. “Attorney Ayad’s election serves as an attestation to ADC’s vital role in ALPACT, and we are certain that his under his leadership, this important initiative will continue to grow.”

“As leaders we are given a platform to guide the organization,” said Ayad. “This will certainly benefit the Arab American community, as it will put our issues at the forefront, at both the state and federal level.”

Ayad added that the while the group has already made significant strides in improving community-law enforcement relations, there is still much work to be done.

“I am truly honored and humbled to be asked to serve as co-chair of this initiative, and I look forward to the work that lies ahead,” he concluded. “This will serve as a great opportunity to further enhance dialogue on issues of concern to the local community. It is imperative that the Arab American community has a strong voice, and that it has a forum to express members’ concerns.”