DETROIT — Wayne State University (WSU) has announced it won’t place journalistic icon Helen Thomas’ name back on its annual Spirit of Diversity Award, despite the concerns Arab Americans and others have expressed over the matter. On Dec. 10 WSU’s Arab American Student Union (ASU) protested on the university’s campus in front of the Faculty Administration Building where WSU’s president and cabinet were expected to hold a meeting but never appeared. It’s not certain whether the meeting was canceled or a different door was taken to avoid demonstrators.

Protestors at WSU rally for the reinstatement of Thomas’ diversity award on Dec. 10. PHOTO: Nafeh AbuNab/American Elite Studios

A spokesman for the ASU says the organization is continuing to raise awareness through emails, circulating petitions, writing a letter to WSU’s board and contacting school officials. The Palestine Cultural Office of Michigan issued a statement urging individuals who are concerned about the matter to contact school administrators. “This action stands inconsistent with the university’s mission to develop the minds of potential leaders among Michigan’s diverse communities and throughout the country. This is a national issue which needs addressing by all Americans,” a news release from the Palestine Cultural Office read. The organization also added that Thomas never used the terms “Jews” or “Jew” in her remarks and focused specifically instead on the political aspects of a complex issue.

“Thomas has the right to challenge an identifiable political constituency in America that advocates a foreign country. To have some extremist American supporters of Israel twist and distort her remarks as anti-Semitic is a tragedy that reflects the continued deteriorating situation of those who support a durable peace in Palestine/Israel,” the news release adds.

On Tuesday Dec. 7 the Congress of Arab American Organizations (CAAO) met with officials from WSU and requested that the university repeal its decision. After days of waiting the CAAO received a response from WSU stating that its concerns had been addressed to WSU’s president and top officials but the decision still wouldn’t be reversed. A source from WSU’s Marketing and Communications Department told The Arab American News the university plans on addressing the concerns of the Arab community and other important stakeholders including alumni and students, but wouldn’t give details on how.

Thomas, a 90-year old journalistic icon had her name removed from the award after she said Congress, the White House, Hollywood and Wall Street are owned by Zionists during a workshop on the misconceptions of Arabs in Dearborn on Dec.2.  Regional Director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee-Michigan, Imad Hamad, who was one of the community leaders to meet with WSU officials Dec. 7 along with Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News and Siham Awada Jaafar, host of the “Community Connection” television program, said the university plans on continuing a constructive dialogue about the issue with the Arab community. “They stressed they want to continue opportunities to explore other options,” Hamad said. He says leaders in the Arab community are now developing another plan of action to address the matter. “Although Arab Americans are on the forefront of the issue it’s not just about Arabs or Helen Thomas anymore, it’s about violating the precious concept of diversity. You can’t be selective with diversity. If America is not a place for debate, I wonder what part of the world is. Diversity includes thoughts that can be offensive to people,” Hamad said. He expects more Americans to voice their concern. “No one needs an invitation here, it’s a common cause.”